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“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson Essay
The Claim: The Poem as an Excellent Example of Dickinson’s Homiletic Style.
On the example of the selected poem, the author’s style will be discussed through the lens of her perception of the world. It will be argued that the combination of the sacred texts heritage, her interpretation of those pieces of writing, and her meditation becomes the fundament of the poem. Besides, it will be proven that these intertwined elements form the basis of the ontological metaphor using which the author manages to create a strong effect on a reader.
The Interpretation of the Poem After a Surface-Level Reading.
Having looked through the text of the poem for the first time and postponing the deeper analysis, a reader can understand the topic of the poem and its plot. The speaker depicts hope as a bird singing tirelessly, and this song is beautiful. As the wind blows and the storm breaks, it sounds even better. Despite the harsh conditions, the bird never asks for a crumb from the speaker.
Figurative Language and Prosody Elements Used in the Poem.
- Meter.
- Scheme.
- Ontological Metaphor.
In the context of the figurative language and the elements of the prosody, several issues will be important. First and foremost, the meter in accentual-syllabic verse will be examined: in this particular case, the iambic trimester that expands and often includes the fourth stress at the end of the line will be seen as the instrument similar to what is used in classical sacred texts, especially in the Biblical poetry, to transfer the solemnity and spirituality. This idea will be supported by books and other academic sources. Further, the scheme of the poem will be considered. The effect of two ABCB and one ABAB stanzas will be scrutinized. It will be argued that this structure is similar to the structure of the narration: the first stanza may be associated with the exposition, the second one is close to the development of events, and the third one can be compared with the climax and denouement. In this respect, the ABCB structure gives the effect of conclusion and stability while the ABAB structure is to convey the idea of development and change. This structure will be regarded as the means of creating the effect of the homiletic poem: the author sees the bird as the role model because it humbly accepts difficulties and does not ask for anything. Finally, the ontological metaphor will be regarded as one of the instruments necessary to reach the expressiveness. The classification of metaphors and their characteristics described by G. Lakoff and M. Johnson will be applied.
Secondary Sources Necessary for the Analysis of the Poem and their Significance.
To address the implications mentioned above, the corresponding sources will be essential. The books, journal articles, or reliable websites information that shed light on the personality of the author and her contribution to the world’s culture will be important to introduce the topic and provide the opportunity to know the overall tendencies. The sources concerning the sacred texts, their effect, and their structure will be helpful. Finally, the sources including the ideas developed by Lakoff and Johnson will be examined.
