In-Depth Analysis
Hope is a thing with feathers, written by Emily Dickinson, is a poem that defines one of the most enduring parts of the human spirit – hope. It is one that has empowered men and women to persevere through the most difficult problems. In this poem, she compares hope to a small, enduring bird within the human soul, one that eternally sings a song of perseverance. In addition to this metaphor, other literary devices such a symbolism help the poem to convey its message of eternal hope.
The title of “Hope is a thing with feathers” mirrors the first line of the poem exactly. By doing this, Dickinson creates a narrative-like feel in which the poem flows from the title to the first stanza. The title isn’t necessarily summarizing the poem but rather beginning it. Interestingly, this technique was used by Mark Stroud in a Where are the Waters of Childhood?. In both cases, it establishes a unique flow from the title to the actual poem.
The theme and metaphor of comparing hope to a bird is used throughout the entire poem. Dickinson associates the song of hope with the bird as she writes “Hope is the thing with feathers
That…/sings the tune without the words” (Lines 1,3). Within the first stanza, we already have a firm picture of the small songbird, even though Dickinson does not outright say it. When Dickinson writes that it “sings the tune without the words” (Line 3), the reader is struck with the idea that the singer is not human, since it does not actually sing the words. The picture of the bird is completed with the description of its feathers, which the reader almost immediately associates with birds.
Within the rest of the poem, Dickinson asserts two ideas. First, she highlights the enduring spirit of this bird of hope. Second, she acknowledges its self-sustaining qualities and how it never asks anything in return for its services.
Even in the first stanza, Dickinson observes the enduring qualities of the bird. She writes that the bird “…perches in the soul,…/ And never stops at all” (Lines 2, 4). By associating the bird’s resting place with the soul, something thought to be immortal, Dickinson establishes the eternal quality of the bird and of hope. Indeed, this is confirmed by the latter phrase, which conveys a sense of perpetual motion and singing. The second stanza highlights the ever-lasting spirit of the bird by examining the force it would take to bring it down. Dickinson says, ‘And sore must be the storm/That could abash the little bird” (Lines 6-7). “Sore” implies lasting injury, something repeatedly harmed. With such a word choice, Dickinson is demonstrating the endurance of the bird. Only something incredibly powerful which repeatedly harmed someone could damage the bird of hope within the soul.
Last, the shift occurs when Dickinson begins to move from the bird’s endurance to its self-sustaining nature. Dickinson writes, “Yet, never, in extremity,/It asked a crumb of me” (Lines 11-12). The shift occurs after the word “yet”, when she begins to describe that self-sustaining nature. She makes it clear that, no matter the “extremity” of the condition or how oppressive the situation might be, the bird of hope is able to cope without any sacrifice on the part of the poet. These phrases are incredibly powerful and display the awe-inspiring power of hope.
The tone and attitude reflects the theme of the poem. Dickinson seems to praise the theme of eternal hope and endurance. Indeed, she reflects on the times in the “chillest land” and the “strangest sea” (Lines 9-10), where hope has come to her rescue. Even in those desolate places where nothing seems to live, the bird of hope can still be found singing.
The symbolism in this poem is great, especially as it complements the metaphor of the bird of hope. The bird represents the ever-lasting hope and optimism that lives inside one’s spirit. Meanwhile, phrases such as “It asked a crumb of me” (Line 12) use other pieces of symbolism and imagery. The crumb represents sacrifice on the part of the author, something that the bird never requests or needs. Indeed, it gives the reader an impressive image of hope’s self-sustaining nature. Other examples of literary devices include alliteration in phrases such as “strangest sea” (Line 10) which highlights the correlation between the strangeness of the location with the sea, something already thought of as vast and mysterious. These literary devices help make “Hope is a thing with feathers” an extremely moving testament to the power of hope.
-Robert Chun
Picture Source
The title of “Hope is a thing with feathers” mirrors the first line of the poem exactly. By doing this, Dickinson creates a narrative-like feel in which the poem flows from the title to the first stanza. The title isn’t necessarily summarizing the poem but rather beginning it. Interestingly, this technique was used by Mark Stroud in a Where are the Waters of Childhood?. In both cases, it establishes a unique flow from the title to the actual poem.
The theme and metaphor of comparing hope to a bird is used throughout the entire poem. Dickinson associates the song of hope with the bird as she writes “Hope is the thing with feathers
That…/sings the tune without the words” (Lines 1,3). Within the first stanza, we already have a firm picture of the small songbird, even though Dickinson does not outright say it. When Dickinson writes that it “sings the tune without the words” (Line 3), the reader is struck with the idea that the singer is not human, since it does not actually sing the words. The picture of the bird is completed with the description of its feathers, which the reader almost immediately associates with birds.
Within the rest of the poem, Dickinson asserts two ideas. First, she highlights the enduring spirit of this bird of hope. Second, she acknowledges its self-sustaining qualities and how it never asks anything in return for its services.
Even in the first stanza, Dickinson observes the enduring qualities of the bird. She writes that the bird “…perches in the soul,…/ And never stops at all” (Lines 2, 4). By associating the bird’s resting place with the soul, something thought to be immortal, Dickinson establishes the eternal quality of the bird and of hope. Indeed, this is confirmed by the latter phrase, which conveys a sense of perpetual motion and singing. The second stanza highlights the ever-lasting spirit of the bird by examining the force it would take to bring it down. Dickinson says, ‘And sore must be the storm/That could abash the little bird” (Lines 6-7). “Sore” implies lasting injury, something repeatedly harmed. With such a word choice, Dickinson is demonstrating the endurance of the bird. Only something incredibly powerful which repeatedly harmed someone could damage the bird of hope within the soul.
Last, the shift occurs when Dickinson begins to move from the bird’s endurance to its self-sustaining nature. Dickinson writes, “Yet, never, in extremity,/It asked a crumb of me” (Lines 11-12). The shift occurs after the word “yet”, when she begins to describe that self-sustaining nature. She makes it clear that, no matter the “extremity” of the condition or how oppressive the situation might be, the bird of hope is able to cope without any sacrifice on the part of the poet. These phrases are incredibly powerful and display the awe-inspiring power of hope.
The tone and attitude reflects the theme of the poem. Dickinson seems to praise the theme of eternal hope and endurance. Indeed, she reflects on the times in the “chillest land” and the “strangest sea” (Lines 9-10), where hope has come to her rescue. Even in those desolate places where nothing seems to live, the bird of hope can still be found singing.
The symbolism in this poem is great, especially as it complements the metaphor of the bird of hope. The bird represents the ever-lasting hope and optimism that lives inside one’s spirit. Meanwhile, phrases such as “It asked a crumb of me” (Line 12) use other pieces of symbolism and imagery. The crumb represents sacrifice on the part of the author, something that the bird never requests or needs. Indeed, it gives the reader an impressive image of hope’s self-sustaining nature. Other examples of literary devices include alliteration in phrases such as “strangest sea” (Line 10) which highlights the correlation between the strangeness of the location with the sea, something already thought of as vast and mysterious. These literary devices help make “Hope is a thing with feathers” an extremely moving testament to the power of hope.
-Robert Chun
Picture Source
