Hope is the thing with feathers

Question

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.

"Hope is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson

Question
Use the poem to answer the question.

Based on the poem’s structure, what conclusion can readers draw?

(1 point)
Responses

The use of dashes rather than periods throughout shows that the poem is one long thought about hope.
The use of dashes rather than periods throughout shows that the poem is one long thought about hope.

The even stanzas demonstrate that the speaker is calm and sure of the message in the poem.
The even stanzas demonstrate that the speaker is calm and sure of the message in the poem.

The rhymes that occur every other line show that each thought is paired with a contradicting thought.
The rhymes that occur every other line show that each thought is paired with a contradicting thought.

The use of quotation marks around the word hope show that the speaker is using the term ironically.
The use of quotation marks around the word hope show that the speaker is using the term ironically.

Answer 1

Based on the poem's structure, the most appropriate conclusion that readers can draw is:

The use of dashes rather than periods throughout shows that the poem is one long thought about hope.

This response reflects the continuous flow of the speaker’s ideas and emotions regarding hope, emphasizing its persistent nature as portrayed in the poem. The other options do not accurately capture the essence of the poem's structure and meaning.