Hope is a strange invention

‘“Faith” is a fine invention (202)’ by Emily Dickinson (1891)

Dickinson wrote this poem in approximately 1860, and it was published posthumously in 1891. The poem features some of the same patterns of equating an abstract virtue with an “invention.” Whereas hope is a “strange invention,” Dickinson refers to faith as a “fine invention.” Even shorter than the poem discussed in this study guide, “‘Faith’ is a fine invention” is only a single quatrain long and features a more cynical tone.

“Crumbling is not an instant’s Act“ by Emily Dickinson (1945)

As with other poems Dickinson wrote, “Crumbling is not an instant’s Act” focuses on the internal struggles of an individual. The speaker describes how an individual's fall or demise happens gradually rather than all at once; flaws and mistakes accumulate until it is too late for redemption.

“Fame is a fickle food (1702)“ by Emily Dickinson (1914)

Like Dickinson’s poems on faith and hope, “Fame is a fickle food” dissects another abstract idea. In the poem, the speaker attempts to describe the ever-changing nature of fame, which does not always lead to the success everyone hopes for.