Poem 314: Emily Dickinson's Hope
Poem 314:
“Hope” is a thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops- at all-
And sweetest- in the Gale- is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird-
That kept so many warm-
I’ve heard it in the chilliest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet- never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb- of me. In poem 314 Dickinson describes the feeling of hope using a metaphor of a bird. This metaphor is made clear in line seven, “That could abash the little Bird-“. This is the first and only point in the poem in which Dickinson openly recognizes that hope is as bird. Throughout the entire poem Dickinson uses certain terminology and images to convey this metaphor. …show more content…
Hope is within all people at all times. It helps them feel as though things will get better, or stay good. This is apparent in line two, “That perches in the soul-“. The fact that Dickinson specifies that the tune is without words implies that hope is not a matter of words or mind, but it is an emotion or feeling. Dickinson also points out that the tune hope is singing never really ends. If one can’t hear the tune, then perhaps they aren’t listening hard enough, because deep, deep down in their souls it remains there. In the poem these points are made in lines three and four, “And sing the tune without the words- And never stop- at all-“. Dickinson’s use of the word “perches” in reference to hope and how it resides in people is meant to stir in the readers mind that of a bird perching on a branch. Singing tunes is also meant to play with the senses, specifically hearing. It is meant to remind the reader of a bird …show more content…
It is in time of crisis and sorrow that they truly appreciate the lovely melody of hope. Dickinson asserts this idea in lines five through seven. “And sweetest- in the Gale- is heard- And sore must be the storm- That could abash the little Bird”. The storm Dickinson speaks of is not one of weather, but of circumstances and emotions. Only something truly challenging or heartbreaking could make hope disappear.The indication that hope gives warmth does not mean that it physically warms them. Rather it warms their hearts and soul. Which Dickinson expresses in line eight. Clearly line seven very pointedly specifies that hope is a bird. The third and last stanza is more of a testimonial of hope. The poem takes on the first person. “I’ve heard it in the chilliest land-“(Line 9). This stanza affirms that hope surpasses all difficulties as long as we are willing to hear its song. Dickinson is pointing out that, though she believes that hope will never leave, she has not tested it at its limits. She acknowledges this in line eleven, “Yet- never- in Extremity”. Also the fact that extremity is capitalized accents its importance. The very last line of the poem concludes that hope gives us all of this and never asks or takes anything in
“Hope” is a thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops- at all-
And sweetest- in the Gale- is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird-
That kept so many warm-
I’ve heard it in the chilliest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet- never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb- of me. In poem 314 Dickinson describes the feeling of hope using a metaphor of a bird. This metaphor is made clear in line seven, “That could abash the little Bird-“. This is the first and only point in the poem in which Dickinson openly recognizes that hope is as bird. Throughout the entire poem Dickinson uses certain terminology and images to convey this metaphor. …show more content…
Hope is within all people at all times. It helps them feel as though things will get better, or stay good. This is apparent in line two, “That perches in the soul-“. The fact that Dickinson specifies that the tune is without words implies that hope is not a matter of words or mind, but it is an emotion or feeling. Dickinson also points out that the tune hope is singing never really ends. If one can’t hear the tune, then perhaps they aren’t listening hard enough, because deep, deep down in their souls it remains there. In the poem these points are made in lines three and four, “And sing the tune without the words- And never stop- at all-“. Dickinson’s use of the word “perches” in reference to hope and how it resides in people is meant to stir in the readers mind that of a bird perching on a branch. Singing tunes is also meant to play with the senses, specifically hearing. It is meant to remind the reader of a bird …show more content…
It is in time of crisis and sorrow that they truly appreciate the lovely melody of hope. Dickinson asserts this idea in lines five through seven. “And sweetest- in the Gale- is heard- And sore must be the storm- That could abash the little Bird”. The storm Dickinson speaks of is not one of weather, but of circumstances and emotions. Only something truly challenging or heartbreaking could make hope disappear.The indication that hope gives warmth does not mean that it physically warms them. Rather it warms their hearts and soul. Which Dickinson expresses in line eight. Clearly line seven very pointedly specifies that hope is a bird. The third and last stanza is more of a testimonial of hope. The poem takes on the first person. “I’ve heard it in the chilliest land-“(Line 9). This stanza affirms that hope surpasses all difficulties as long as we are willing to hear its song. Dickinson is pointing out that, though she believes that hope will never leave, she has not tested it at its limits. She acknowledges this in line eleven, “Yet- never- in Extremity”. Also the fact that extremity is capitalized accents its importance. The very last line of the poem concludes that hope gives us all of this and never asks or takes anything in