analyzing emily dickinson poems?

Question

i need help analyzing this poem. "Hope is a thing with feathers."
Hope is a thing with feathers-
that perches on 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 abahs the little bird-
and keep so many warm-

ive heard it in the chilliest lands-
and on the stangest sea-
yes never in extremity-
it asked a crumb-of me


thanks everyone!

Answer 1

Try this site. It has a wonderful analysis that will help you answer the question, not give you the answer.

Dickinson defines hope with a metaphor, comparing it to a bird.

Stanza one
Hope is a "thing" because it is a feeling; the thing/feeling is like a bird. Dickinson uses the standard dictionary format for a definition; first she placed the word in a general category ("thing"), and then she differentiated it from everything else in that category.

Why does the bird "perch" in the soul? How would hope "perch," and why does it perch in the soul? As you read this poem, keep in mind that the subject is hope and that the bird metaphor is only defining hope. Whatever is being said of the bird applies to hope, and the application to hope is Dickinson's point in this poem.

The bird "sings." Is this a good or a bad thing? The tune is "without words." Is hope a matter of words, or is it a feeling about the future, a feeling which consists both of desire and expectation? Psychologically, is it true that hope never fails us, that hope is always possible?

Answer 2

Gentlest is taken from comfortable, which skill good nature and good humor and "mom' is determine in our kinfolk which stands for love and good and marvelous temperament. The poetess had used this words in her poem to describe the main comfortable and loving guy or woman. because of the fact while gentlest is used with "mom" it has won a great expressive skill of affection and gentleness. good success