Exploring the Text

1. What associations—even archetypes—does Emily Dickinson evoke with her image of “Hope” as a bird?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - What associations—even archetypes—does Emily Dickinson evoke with her image of “Hope” as a bird?
2. Why would Dickinson, a brilliant poet, use such a general, sometimes derogatory, word as “thing” (l. 1)? What difference would it make to say, for instance, that Hope is the “creature” with feathers, or that Hope “wears” feathers?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - Why would Dickinson, a brilliant poet, use such a general, sometimes derogatory, word as “thing” (l. 1)? What difference would it make to say, for instance, that Hope is the “creature” with feathers, or that Hope “wears” feathers?
3. Of what importance is it that Hope sings the “tune without the words” (l. 3)—that is, Hope does not use verbal language?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - Of what importance is it that Hope sings the “tune without the words” (l. 3)—that is, Hope does not use verbal language?
4. What is the meaning of “abash” (l. 7)? What does the sound of this term add to the meaning?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - What is the meaning of “abash” (l. 7)? What does the sound of this term add to the meaning?
5. In what ways might you read the phrase “in Extremity” (l. 11) as ambiguous? To whom or what does it refer?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - In what ways might you read the phrase “in Extremity” (l. 11) as ambiguous? To whom or what does it refer?
6. How does the repeated four-part structure of the three stanzas reinforce the poem’s meaning?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - How does the repeated four-part structure of the three stanzas reinforce the poem’s meaning?