hope is a thing with feathers (dickinson) Flashcards
what does the narrator see hope as
•sees hope as bird that resides in humans. persists without break singing constantly
what rhyme scheme
•follows loose rhyme scheme of abcb conforming to the pattern of a ballad
repitition
“that” and “and” are used several times throughout
enjambent
•transition between lines three and four of second stanza
metaphor
•the initial comparison between hope and a bird
anaphor
•”and” starts a total of 5 lines
what does she use the small bird to do
•used small bird to convey message indicating that hope burns in the harshest of storms, coldest of winds, and in the unknown of seas, yet never demands in return
what does hope do
•hope persists continuously within us keeping us alive
what does the narrator think hope can be deemed as
•narrator feels that hope can be deemed as a bird with feathers singing its own tune merrily
the bird may not speak..
•a specific language yet it’s present in human souls
hope is an
•eternal spring, it’s a vital constituent of human beings, enabling us to conquer uncharted territories
what does hope hold over us
•hope wields an expansive power over us
•gets merrier and sweeter as storm gets mightier and relentless
gets merrier and sweeter as storm gets mightier and relentless
z
can hope be taken away
•no storm can sway hope and it’s adamant attitude. it would take a deadly storm of astronomical power to flatten to the bird of hope
what does the poem stress
•stresses that hope retains its clarity and strength in the harshest conditions yet doesn’t demand in return for its valiant services
hope is inherently powerful
•it doesn’t need polishing, as it steers the ship from one storm to another with efficacy
this poem is a
beautifully, metaphorical driven poem
the bird asks
•nothing in return — it costs nothing for people to maintain hope
what does the poem implore
•implores readers to make good use of hope and to see it as an essentially deeply valuable part of themselves
what does the poet want the readers to see hope with
•wants readers to see hope with clear eyes and not take it for granted
starting with “hope is a bird” would
•have same literal meaning but would feel much less surprising
the surprise element helps establish the poems purpose of redefining hope
“perches” in the soul, it’s its home
sings without stopping, this perseverance is a representation of humanity’s infinite capacity for hope
even in the depths of despair the poem seems to say that people can still have hope and that it’ll sustaincthem
hope gives people strength to carry on and it’s at its most useful when circumstances are worst
what does the poem initially define hope as
•initially defines hope as “the thing with feathers”. though obviously it’s a bird, the unusualness of first desc shows poem wants reader to look afresh at hope
