Sample poetry analysis

A famous classical poet has said that the aim of literature is ‘to teach and to delight’. In the work ONE poet you have studied, examine some poems where both of these aims (instruction and something that pleases the reader) have been included, and show how that has been achieved.

Poetry was widely used before to help poets express their emotions and tell stories. It is shorter and more lively than a normal prose; in my opinion, it is another form of song, due to its strong beats and ambiguous form of expression. Overall, reading a poem is delightful because it is same as enjoying a music or a piece of art work, and another wonderful thing is many poetries can always teach readers a lesson and even guide their way. 

The style of Emily Dickinson’s poetry is simple but powerful which fits the “to teach and to delight” description perfectly. She is one of the greatest and most original poet in America. Sometimes, her poems are kind of abstract but brings sharp views, which attacks the limitation of their societies directly. Therefore, her poetry is usually full of educational values.   Also, her poetry is enjoyable to read; as far as I know, she was famous for using unexpected metaphors, which will definitely bring surprises to readers. 

In “Hope” is the thing with feathers, the title itself is an very important metaphor, which tells the characteristics of hope---free, joyful and unreachable. The object “hope” is described as a bird by the speaker through the entire poem, but it is not even mentioned directly. However, the reason why we get it is the brief but precise metaphor. When I read this poem, many images are floating in my head; I, as a reader, could follow poet’s steps entering the world she describes: a beautiful bird is singing around me in the stormy chilly land. 

“ And sings the tune without the words

And never stops - at all -”

“I’ve heard it in the chillest land-

And on the strangest Sea” 

It can clearly tell that the vivd descriptions bring joys while reading the poem. And also the “-est” reputation creates the beat and heats up the emotions, which emphasizes the harsh condition the speaker is facing. In spite of this, the hope bird is still accompanied with the speaker, which shows the great and selfless of hope. 

“Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.” 

The tone of three stanzas’ rises steadily from peaceful and cheerful to strong and fearless. Readers are attracted by this delightful little poem, but also they are learning from it.

One of the main themes of this poem is the importance and selflessness of Hope. 

“ And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -”

It tells the readers that no matter how terrible life is, hope is always there, and it can cheer people up and give people warm. No one should give up hope even “in the chillest land”. It will always guide the way and light up the future. However, it costs no money and no payback, people just need to believe it from the bottom of their hearts. This is the life philosophy the poet was trying to tell us. 

“Hope” is the thing with feathers is a typical example of Emily Dickinson’s work, which influences thousands of people all around the world. They are taught by it and cheered by it.