Question

Use the poem below to answer the following questions:
Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson
"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.
In the line, "And sore must be the storm - / That could abash the little Bird -," what is the connotation of the word "abash"?
(1 point)
To strengthen or encourage
• To confuse or mislead
To honor or uplift
• To quiet or stifle

Answer 1

To quiet or stifle.

Explanation: "Abash" here means to embarrass, disconcert, or discourage — the storm would have to be severe to silence or suppress the little bird's song.