Hope By Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope” is a simple yet evocative poem; it has a clear message to convey which is does in a seemingly simple way, but when you look into the language and imagery that Dickinson uses there is a deeper sense of understanding “Hope’s” real struggle against adversity.

The image of the poem is of a little bird perched inside the reader singing to the soul at times of need.
Even when times get really difficult the little bird keeps singing a really inspiring tune. The bird is subjected to gales, storms, cold lands and strange places but it keeps singing it’s hopeful tune.

The poem is an extended metaphor describing
“I’ve heard it in the chillest land –“ whilst chillest means cold it can also be used to describe unfriendly circumstances with the word “strangest” in the next line continuing the theme of an unfriendly circumstance. The next line with the emphasis on both the words “never” and “Extremity” then lead on to the last line, which is quite poignant and explains how hope has asked for nothing in return even whilst facing really adversity; it asks for nothing from the
Finally, in the third stanza the poem goes back to being on a more individual basis especially when the poem’s speaker says “I’ve heard it in the chilliest land-“ and “of me.” The third stanza also has a more introspective tone by describing the speakers own experiences with hope. There is an irregular rhyming pattern which establishes a rhythm making the flow of the poem feel more regular. The poem has a lyrical quality much like the song from the “Bird”.

Dickinson has written this poem in very simple language; there are no complicated words. She uses very few adjectives, with an equal spread of verbs and nouns. The choice of the word “sore” in line six and “abash” in line seven:
“And sore must be the storm”
“That could abash the little