15 pages 30 minutes read

Emily Dickinson

Hope is a strange invention

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1955

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Themes

Optimism Is a Motivating Force

Analyzing Emily Dickinson’s poetry for themes of “hope, encouragement, love, sympathy, [and] kindness,” Anila Jamil and Saira Hassan state that Dickinson addresses the subject of optimism “in a way that inspires reader [sic] and the poet herself to be motivated by her optimism” and to make them “strong and powerful against despair, hopelessness and desolation” (Hassan, Saira, and Anila Jamil. “Representation of Philosophy and Theme of Hope in Dickinson’s Poetry.” British Journal of Education, 2015). In “Hope is a strange invention,” “hope” is described as “never wearing out” (Line 4). Optimism can be defined as a sense of hopefulness about the future. In Dickinson’s poem, hope never ends; it is self-sustaining and regenerative. Hope is in constant motion, “In unremitting action” (Line 3). By calling the action “unremitting,” the speaker implies that hope never gives up. Hope is always looking ahead at the end goal. “Action” implies that there is constant work being done to achieve that goal. Similarly, the speaker describes hope’s “unique momentum” (Line 7). The use of the word “momentum” implies forward movement or energy. Hope is a force constantly pushing onward in pursuit of some desire. As with the reference to “unremitting action,” “unique momentum” illustrates how hope never ceases.

Related Titles

By Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

A Bird, came down the Walk

Emily Dickinson

A Bird, came down the Walk

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

A Clock stopped—

Emily Dickinson

A Clock stopped—

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

After great pain, a formal feeling comes

Emily Dickinson

After great pain, a formal feeling comes

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

A narrow Fellow in the Grass (1096)

Emily Dickinson

A narrow Fellow in the Grass (1096)

Emily Dickinson

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

logo

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

Emily Dickinson

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

"Faith" is a fine invention

Emily Dickinson

"Faith" is a fine invention

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

Fame Is a Fickle Food (1702)

Emily Dickinson

Fame Is a Fickle Food (1702)

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

"Hope" Is the Thing with Feathers

Emily Dickinson

"Hope" Is the Thing with Feathers

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

I Can Wade Grief

Emily Dickinson

I Can Wade Grief

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

I Felt a Cleaving in my Mind

Emily Dickinson

I Felt a Cleaving in my Mind

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain

Emily Dickinson

I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking

Emily Dickinson

If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

If I should die

Emily Dickinson

If I should die

Emily Dickinson

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

logo

If you were coming in the fall

Emily Dickinson

If you were coming in the fall

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

I heard a Fly buzz — when I died

Emily Dickinson

I heard a Fly buzz — when I died

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

I'm Nobody! Who Are You?

Emily Dickinson

I'm Nobody! Who Are You?

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

Much Madness is divinest Sense—

Emily Dickinson

Much Madness is divinest Sense—

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

Success Is Counted Sweetest

Emily Dickinson

Success Is Counted Sweetest

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

Tell all the truth but tell it slant

Emily Dickinson

Tell all the truth but tell it slant

Emily Dickinson

Study Guide

logo

The Only News I Know

Emily Dickinson

The Only News I Know

Emily Dickinson