Figurative Language (Metaphor) and Diction Analysis in "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson from Putri Arti Lestari

Figurative Language (Metaphor) and Diction Analysis in "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson

Abstract

In this paper, the writer tried to analyze “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson. The purpose of this writing is to understand the intrinsic elements of the poem which will focus on metaphor and diction. The method used for this writing is close reading. The writer found that the poem is dominated by figurative language such as metaphor and diction. To conclude, Emily Dickinson wants to tell that hope is always be there in human life.

Keywords: figurative language, metaphor, diction

1. Introduction

            Poetry is one of genres in literature. Laurence Perrine in Sounds and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry (1969:3) which defines poetry as a kind of language that says more and says it more intensely than does ordinary language. A poetry comes from the feeling of the poem through their words. To analyze a poetry, we have to understand what is the meaning of that poetry “says.”

2. Theory and Methodology            

            Perrine (1982:61) tells that “figurative languages is broadly defined as anyway of saying something other than ordinary way.” It is more narrowly definable as a way of saying one thing and meaning another.

Mary Oliver in A Poetry Handbook (1935:102) tells that “Metaphor is an implicit rather than an explicit comparison. It does not use the words “like” or “as” in its construction. The two things compared often seem very different, and the linkage often surprises and delights as well as it enlightens.”                                  

Mary Oliver in her book A Poetry Handbook (1935:76) says that  “’Watch you language!’ you say to someone who has just expressed himself with the help of slang or an expletive. What you really mean is ‘Watch your diction!’ Diction means word choice.” 

The methodology on this paper are:

1. To understand the using of metaphor in the poetry.

2. To understand the using of diction in the poetry.

3. To appreciate a work of literature.
 

3. Scope of The Study

            The Scope of the study is to analyze the figurative language, metaphor and diction in poetry “Hope is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson.
 

4. The Poet, The Poem, and The Paraphrase
4. 1 The Biography of Emily Dickinson             

              Emily Elizabeth Dickinson is a daughter from Edward Dickinson and Emily Norcross. Emily was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, on 10 December 1830. She was educated at Amherst College for seven years and she attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary for a year. On 15 May 1886, she died of kidney disease in her hometown.  
 

4. 2 "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

4. 3 The Paraphrase of “Hope is The Thing with Feathers”

                Hope is feeling that what we want could happen. Hope is like a bird which could fly high and always there in human life. If people do not have a hope, they live in this world like nothing.
 

5. Discussion 
5.1 Metaphor

 Hope is the thing with feathers -

Emily Dickinson uses a metaphor ‘feathers’ to compare hope to a bird. Hope is a feeling that what we want could happen. Feather is one of the body parts of bird which are wings. This feathers represent hope because feathers or wings can make the bird fly away to find a new hope. A bird without wings such as a human without hope.

That perches in the soul -

                     This sentence uses a metaphor ‘perches’ represent to a birdcage. After a bird find their food, they back to their cage to rest for a while.  It tells that we have something inside of us which soul is the home for hope.

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops - at all –

                In stanza 1 line 3-4, Emily Dickinson is saying that hope is always inside of us. Hope is never gone such as a bird is singing a beautiful song and never stop it.

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard –

Emily Dickinson tells us that the bird still singing their song even though there are harsh winds, the bird is brave and not afraid.

And sore must be the storm –

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm –

            In stanza 2 lines 2-4 continue to explore the strength of hope by telling that  ‘storms’ as the worst of life and even in the difficult circumstances hope is always there with us. Hope is offering the promise that the storm will end and there is something better to come.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –

And on the strangest Sea –

Emily Dickinson uses ‘I’ve’ meaning that she has been through the terrible times in her life.  The bird which is the sign for hope could be easily be crushed and hope may be disappeared but due to the beautiful songs of the bird, it makes us faith positive and reassured our hearts who are in doubts.

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

In the last stanzas, Emily Dickinson tells us even though the bird is in the strange circumstances, the bird never asked for anything in return. It means that hope is always there for us and hope never asked for anything in return.

5.2 Diction

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard – (stanza 2, line 1)

The word ‘gale’ means strong wind storm represent to the circumstances. Hope is still heard through the strong wind storm.

And sore must be the storm – (stanza 2, line 2)

The word ‘sore’ means painful and the painful must be the storm. It refers to the human when we have a terrible time.

That could abash the little Bird (stanza 2, line 3)

The word ‘abash’ means to humble or to weaken. It represent to the weaken bird when there are the harsh winds.

And on the strangest Sea – (stanza 3, line 2)

The word ‘strangest’ means most foreign. It tells us that Dickinson has heard  hope even though she is in the most foreign places.

Yet - never - in Extremity, (stanza 3, line 3)

The word ‘extremity’ means danger that hope never asked for anything in return even in the most distant or dangerous moments.

6. Conclusion

In the poetry “Hope is the thing with feathers”, Emily Dickinson wants us to know that hope is always there whenever and wherever we are, even though there are many hard time that we have. By using figurative language like metaphor and the diction, she tells a metaphorical description of hope through simple language to explain an idea present in everyone’s life. As we know that to understand the meaning of the poetry is not easy. We have to read it over and over again, translate and understand the meaning until we can touch the feeling with our heart of the poetry. Thus, we will know what the poet wants to convey to the readers.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Johnson, Thomas H. 1955. The Poems of Emily Dickinson. Cambridge: The Belknap Press.

Kennedy, X.J. 1978. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama  2^nd ed. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, Ltd.

Meyer, Michael. 1976. The Bedford Introduction to Literature 2^nd ed. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press.

Oliver, Mary. 1994. A Poetry Handbook. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Hardcourt.

Perrine, Laurence. 1969. Sound and Sense:An Introduction to Poetry 3rd ed. New York: Harcourt Brace Javanovich, Inc.

Thrall, William Flint, and Addison Hibbard. 1960. A Handbook To Literature. New York: Odyssey Press.