ipl-logo

Emily Dickinson Metaphors

437 Words2 Pages

Emily Dickinson is known for her distinctive poetic style and her ability to capture the intricacies of the human condition. One of her most well-known poems, "'Hope' is the thing with feathers," speaks to the resilience of hope in the face of adversity. Through her use of metaphor and imagery, Dickinson connects the idea of hope to the human experience and offers a message of comfort and perseverance. The poem begins with the line, "Hope is the thing with feathers," immediately drawing a comparison between hope and a bird. The image of a bird with feathers suggests lightness and freedom, which in turn speaks to the human desire for hope and a brighter future. The use of the word "thing" instead of "bird" also broadens the metaphor to include any form of …show more content…

Dickinson suggests that hope is a part of our human nature, something that is always with us even in our darkest moments. Dickinson also explores the idea of hope being present in times of despair. She writes, "And sings the tune without the words / And never stops at all." Here, Dickinson suggests that even when we cannot find the words to express our feelings or when we feel as though all is lost, hope continues to sing its song. This speaks to the resiliency of the human spirit, even in the face of adversity. Finally, Dickinson offers a message of comfort and reassurance, writing, "And sore must be the storm / That could abash the little bird / That kept so many warm." This final image of the storm being unable to defeat the bird of hope suggests that no matter how difficult the circumstances may be, hope will always prevail. By connecting the human experience to the resilience of hope, Dickinson offers a message of perseverance and strength in the face of

Show More
Related

  • The Theme Of Hope In Roland Smith's The Ghost Bird

    504 Words  | 3 Pages

    Samuel Smiles, a scottish author and governor, said, “Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.” Roland Smith wrote a great short story based on the topic of hope and determination. Roland Smith wrote a short story, “The Ghost Bird”. This story is about a girl named Hannah who teams up with Mr. Tanner to find the rare ivorybills that are on Mr. Tanner’s property and never gives up on hope to find them. The author uses characters personality traits and setting to convey the theme of even in the most difficult times, never lose hope.

    Read More

  • Hope In Joseph Heller's Catch-22

    683 Words  | 3 Pages

    and questioning the wrongs of the world (412). Dickinson claims that “And sore must be the storm - / That could abash the little Bird,” asserting that traumas must be severe to deter hope, and Yossarian’s storm is certainly

    Read More

  • Hear America Sing Figurative Language

    213 Words  | 1 Pages

    Hope Is a Feathered Thing. " She uses rhyme to give her poems an organized and purposeful flow. Dickinson uses a lot of figurative language when comparing hope to a feathered bird. This poem explores the fluid nature of hope and how it can help us cope with difficult circumstances.

    Read More

  • Paul Laurence Dunbar Sympathy Themes

    914 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hope is the main reason that the caged bird finds the strength to fight the engulfing oppression it was facing. For example, the character of the bird in, “Caged Bird” sings, hoping that his plea of freedom is heard by others, so that he can be free from the oppression that is binding him. The bird’s

    Read More

  • Similarities Between After Great Pain And To An Athlete Dying Young

    1584 Words  | 7 Pages

    Although it is negative, Dickinson’s poem displays the reality of grieving that can be summarized for now with one line from it: “First–Chill–then Stupor– then the letting go –”(Dickinson 13). Although this quote may not make sense to someone who has not read the poem it will be explained

    Read More

  • Hope By Emily Dickinson Rhetorical Devices

    441 Words  | 2 Pages

    (Dickinson 1). Hope is a bird that keeps you safe and covers you with soft feathers. The quote that I choose conveys the message because hope is the bird with soft feathers that keeps you safe. Hope is important and it’s a free bird.

    Read More

  • The Impact Of All Quiet On The Western Front

    1143 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the poem, “Hope is the thing with feathers,” it says,“ Hope” is the thing with feathers/ That

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men Hope Essay

    743 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although hardships in life are inevitable, hope for a better day is a power that “never stops at all” (Dickinson). Authors such as John Steinbeck and Emily Dickinson have incorporated hope within their literary work as a way to provide optimism. Both authors experienced difficulties during their lifetime that led them to understand the true value of hope. Steinbeck, a California native, lived through the economic affliction that plagued the nation during the Great Depression and was witness to its lasting effect on the working class, while Dickinson lived much of her life in isolation with only limited correspondence to others. Dickinson’s famous poem

    Read More

  • The Red Wheelbarrow Poem

    765 Words  | 4 Pages

    On page 185 Adah quotes from “’Hope’ is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson

    Read More

  • I Am Malala Sparknotes

    593 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Hope Is The Thing With Feathers”, a poem by Emily Dickinson, is about how hope is something that lives inside of us all, and that we are never alone no matter what. These three texts show evidence that hope for a better future can help lead people out of the darkness. In The Breadwinner by Deborah

    Read More

  • Things That Fly Symbolism

    797 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the story, the narrator feels powerless about his situation, and he envies birds for their ability to fly and be free. The protagonist says, "I told Mom my theory of why we like birds –– of how birds are a miracle because they prove to us there is a finer, simpler state of being which we may strive to attain.” The protagonist of the story uses birds as a metaphor for freedom, escape, and finding nobility in what he views as a harsh world. The protagonist is saying that birds are a symbol of hope and freedom and that they represent a simpler way of life that we should strive to achieve. The narrator expresses his desire to become a bird, as he says, “just make me a bird - that’s all I ever wanted - a white graceful bird free of shame and taint and fear of loneliness.”

    Read More

  • Comparing Dickinson And Whitman's Poetry

    932 Words  | 4 Pages

    Whitman and Dickinson share the theme of death in their work, while Whitman decides to speak of death in a more realistic point of view, Dickinson speaks of the theme in a more conceptual one. In Whitman’s poems, he likes to have a more empathic view of individuals and their ways of living. For example, in Whitman’s “Song of Myself”, the poet talks about not just of himself, but all human beings, and of how mankind works into the world and the life of it. Even though the poem mostly talks about life and the happiness of it, Whitman describes also that life itself has its ending, and that is the theme of death. For Dickinson, she is the complete opposite of happiness.

    Read More

  • What Does Hope Is The Thing With Feathers Mean

    364 Words  | 2 Pages

    Let me explain. I read a poem called ‘“Hope” is the thing with feathers’ by Emily Dickinson. Her poem told a lot about hope and how it is a beautiful thing. It also compared hope with bird in the poem like I said before. I realized that the poem isn’t just about birds and hope being similar.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of The Theme Of 'Hope Is The Thing With Feathers'

    1028 Words  | 5 Pages

    A Bird’s Eye View Emily Dickinson opens up her poem with the famous line, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words,’’. Paul Laurence Dunbar ends his poem with the line “I know why the caged bird sings!”. These two lines from the poets form the theme of the two poems. The poem “Hope is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson, and “Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar both present a theme that suffering makes you appreciate hope much more. It seems that hope and pain are almost a dynamic duo.

    Read More

  • What Does Hope Is The Thing With Feathers Mean

    185 Words  | 1 Pages

    Hope is the thing with feathers is a simple but sophisticated poem that tells the story of ‘hope’ having the second meaning of trust and desire and metaphorically takes on the characteristics of a living creature, a bird. This is supported by the choice of words and metaphors in the first two lines of the first stanza “Hope is the thing with feathers,” “That perches in the soul,” Emily uses the metaphorical image of hope being a bird to describe the abstract thought of hope. She uses the idea of feathers being hope because when you imagination feathers you get that feeling of having your own and being able to fly away to a new hope that life could bring you.

    Read More

More about Emily Dickinson Metaphors

Open Document