Poetry analysis: hope is a thing with feathers, by Emily Dickinson

To be without hope surely means to have given up on life. Many people all over the world live in extremely challenging situations, leading hard lives in appalling conditions. What keeps people going in such circumstances is the glimmer of hope that things can change.

This is one thought that came to mind when first reading the poem "Hope is a thing with feathers" by Emily Dickinson. Another is that whoever or wherever you are in the world there is always hope, and what's more hope costs nothing.

What is striking about the poem is its absolute simplicity, both in structure and in the words the poem presents. However the content and ideas being discussed in the poem are really far from simple, the idea of hope in "extremity" and hope in the "chillest land/ And on the strangest sea," is a quite philosophical way of viewing the world. The clear and easy way the rhyme scheme works in conjunction with the simple words certainly works in counter to the content. It is clear that this poem is much more than a simple piece of verse.

One of the messages of the poem seems to say that whatever life throws at the individual there is always the dove-like glimmer of hope that sits in all of us that is so strong that its voice can still be heard in the "gale" of stormy times. Everyone goes through stormy times in their life and no matter where you are on earth or from which "strangest sea" you inhabit but there is no need to despair.

Pain and hope the poem seems to be saying, comes to all of us, but hope is the resistance that keeps human nature stubborn and fighting the things that life throws at us. Hope through the metaphor Dickinson uses, is a bird that "perches in the soul" of everyone, regardless of race, gender or status. It is something that everyone has to "keep them warm" against the storm of life, and it never stops singing nor does it ask "a crumb" of the user. It is something that is present within us that we take for granted and usually think little of, until that is we come across poetry like this to capture our attention.

There is a definite contrast within the poem between hope on the one side as represented with the words like "warm," "Soul," "sweetest;" and in the pain of life as represented in words like "storm," "gales," "chillest." Although there is a clear battle between these two elements, it is clear which one comes out on top as the voice of hope can still be heard through the gales and storms. It is clear that whatever the battles we may face, hope wins through in the end.

Poems for analysis

CHERRY-RIPE Thomas Campion (1567?-1619) HERE is a garden in her face Where roses and white lilies blow; A heavenly paradise is that place, Wherein all pleasant fruits do flow: There cherries grow which none may buy Till 'Cherry-ripe' themselves do cry.   Those cherries fairly do enclose Of orient pearls a double row, Which when her lovely laughter shows, They look like rose-buds fill'd with snow; Yet them nor peer nor prince can buy Till 'Cherry-ripe' themselves do cry.   Her eyes like angels watch them still; Her brows like bended bows do stand, Threat'ning with piercing frowns to kill All that attempt with eye or hand Those sacred cherries to come nigh, Till 'Cherry-ripe' themselves do cry.

The man he killed by Thomas Hardy Had he and I but met By some old ancient inn, We should have [sat]^1 us down to wet Right many a nipperkin!   But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face, I shot at him as he at me, And killed him in his place.   I shot him dead because - Because he was my foe, Just so: my foe of course he was; That's clear enough; although   He thought he'd ['list]^2 perhaps, Offhand like - just as I - Was out of work, had sold his traps, No other reason why.   Yes, quaint and curious war is! You shoot a fellow down You'd treat, if met where any bar is, Or help to half-a-crown.

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