"Hope" Is the Thing with Feathers

"Hope is a subtle Glutton" by Emily Dickinson (1896)

Hope is a common theme in Dickinson’s work. There are 14 poems attributed to Dickinson that refer to “hope” in the first line, and there are three among those that use the same opening construction as “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers.” This poem, “Hope is a subtle Glutton,” is believed to be written much later in Dickinson’s life, and it takes a much darker view of hope. Instead of the “little Bird” (Line 7) in “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers,” this poem describes hope as a “Glutton” (Line 1) that perpetually “feeds upon the Fair” (Line 2). Like most of Dickinson’s poetry, there is a multitude of possible interpretations to this poem. However, the characterization of hope in this poem is much more pessimistic than in her earlier work.

"Hope is a strange invention" by Emily Dickinson (1955)

“Hope is a strange invention” is another of Dickinson’s three poems that start with the construction “Hope is.” While this work was not published until 1955, it is believed to be written between “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” and “Hope is a subtle Glutton.” “Hope is a strange invention” does not have the pessimism of “Hope is a subtle Glutton,” nor the optimism of “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers.