Emily Dickinson's "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers" - What Does It Mean to You?

[John]

Emily Dickinson's "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers" - What Does It Mean to You?

Emily Dickinson imagined hope as a small bird that lives within the soul, sings through storms and asks for nothing in return.

It's a simple image, but the more you examine the poem, the more questions it raises.

Is hope really something that never disappears? Does it become more meaningful when life is difficult? And why does Dickinson choose a bird that offers comfort without asking for even a crumb?

A few questions for discussion:

• What does the bird represent to you personally?
• Do you think hope becomes stronger during difficult times, or can it sometimes be almost impossible to find?
• Why do you think Dickinson describes the bird as singing without words?
• What is the significance of the bird never asking for food?
• Do you interpret the poem as spiritual, secular or something in between?

One particularly interesting detail is that Dickinson's poem was first published in 1891, after her death, and later editions preserve aspects of her unusual punctuation that earlier editors changed.

We've explored the poem's three stanzas, symbolism, literary techniques and publication history in our full article:

Read the article:

What Is the Meaning of "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson?

I'd be interested to hear whether you find the poem comforting or whether you think it presents an idealised picture of hope.

There is plenty of room for different interpretations, so feel free to share your thoughts.