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Emily DickinsonA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
"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.
By Emily Dickinson
A Bird, came down the Walk
A Bird, came down the Walk
Emily Dickinson
A Clock stopped—
A Clock stopped—
Emily Dickinson
A narrow Fellow in the Grass (1096)
A narrow Fellow in the Grass (1096)
Emily Dickinson
Because I Could Not Stop for Death
Because I Could Not Stop for Death
Emily Dickinson
"Faith" is a fine invention
"Faith" is a fine invention
Emily Dickinson
Fame Is a Fickle Food (1702)
Fame Is a Fickle Food (1702)
Emily Dickinson
Hope is a strange invention
Hope is a strange invention
Emily Dickinson
I Can Wade Grief
I Can Wade Grief
Emily Dickinson
I Felt a Cleaving in my Mind
I Felt a Cleaving in my Mind
Emily Dickinson
I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain
I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain
Emily Dickinson
If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking
If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking
Emily Dickinson
If I should die
If I should die
Emily Dickinson
If you were coming in the fall
If you were coming in the fall
Emily Dickinson
I heard a Fly buzz — when I died
I heard a Fly buzz — when I died
Emily Dickinson
I'm Nobody! Who Are You?
I'm Nobody! Who Are You?
Emily Dickinson
Much Madness is divinest Sense—
Much Madness is divinest Sense—
Emily Dickinson
Success Is Counted Sweetest
Success Is Counted Sweetest
Emily Dickinson
Tell all the truth but tell it slant
Tell all the truth but tell it slant
Emily Dickinson
The Only News I Know
The Only News I Know
Emily Dickinson
There is no Frigate like a Book
There is no Frigate like a Book
Emily Dickinson