Poem Analysis - My Faith Is Larger Than The Hills

Introduction: A Poem of Unshakable Faith

Emily Dickinson's My Faith Is Larger Than The Hills is a vivid declaration of unwavering belief, using grand natural imagery to convey the power of faith. The tone is confident and reverent, with a shift toward urgency in the final stanza as the speaker questions the consequences of doubting. The poem blends the spiritual and the earthly, suggesting faith is both a guiding force and a necessity for the world's harmony.

Themes: Faith, Nature, and Divine Will

The poem explores faith as an unbreakable force, comparing it to the enduring hills yet claiming it surpasses even them. The speaker's faith becomes a guide for the sun, symbolizing its role in illuminating truth. Another theme is the interdependence of faith and nature—without divine will (represented by the sun's "Golden Will"), life (birds, flowers, bells) would cease. Finally, the poem touches on human responsibility, as the speaker fears failing to uphold faith could disrupt the universe's order ("Lest Firmament should fail for me").

Symbolism: The Sun, Hills, and Golden Will

The hills symbolize earthly permanence, yet the speaker's faith is "larger," suggesting its transcendent power. The sun represents divine will, its "Yellow feet" bringing life to the world. The Purple Wheel is ambiguous—possibly the horizon or a celestial chariot—emphasizing faith's role in guiding the divine. The final image of the Rivet in the Bands implies the speaker's faith is a small but crucial part of holding the universe together.

Conclusion: Faith as the World's Foundation

Dickinson's poem celebrates faith as both personal and universal, a force that sustains nature and connects humanity to the divine. The vivid imagery transforms abstract belief into something tangible and essential. The poem leaves readers with a question: if faith is this powerful, how can we afford to doubt it? Its urgency reminds us that faith, though invisible, is as vital as the sun itself.