Compare Hope And Hope Is The Thing With Feathers By Emily Dickinson

774 Words2 Pages

In the Oxford dictionary hope is defined as, “The feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen” (Oxford University Press). As humans, our desires and expectations are feelings that bring us joy and happiness; Whether that includes a higher position in our career or receiving a higher grade in school. In the two poems “Hope” by Ariel Dorfman, and “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson the word hope is used interchangeably. Although both poems are based on one word, each poem has taken a different perspective on it. Dickinson’s poem metaphorically transforms hope in to a bird that is always present in a human, while Dorfmans poem takes a profound meaning out of this word, where a mother and father hope for their child to continue on being tortured. Though the authors in both poems circulate their story around one word, each poem contextualizes the …show more content…

Moreover, it is an extended metaphor, transforming hope in to a bird, “With feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words.” (Dickinson, 653) The word hope sings when time gets tough, it is used as a positive connotative phrase. Throughout Dickinson’s poem the term hope is shown to be in a human soul. She communicates this theme by using metaphors and personifications. Dickinson uses the word feathers several times in her poem, she metaphorically compares it with the feeling of hope. When one thinks of feathers, softness and humbleness are the first feelings that come to mind. Dickinson’s trying to show how hope is associated with these feelings, and that these thoughts are always inside of a human’s soul. The title of the poem is incorporated in the first line of the stanza showing its significance towards the overall theme. Unlike “Hope” by Dorfman, Dickinson contextualizes a happier approach by comparing hope with birds and feathers in her

Open Document