Question

Read and analyze Emily Dickinson’s poem titled "Hope is a 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. In 4 or more complete sentences, explain how the poet uses metaphor in this poem. What is the comparison? Give examples and evidence from the poem to prove your point.

Do this as a 7th grader

Answer 1

In this poem, Emily Dickinson uses the metaphor of hope being compared to a bird with feathers. Throughout the poem, the speaker describes hope as a bird that perches in the soul, sings a tune without words, and never stops. This comparison helps to convey the idea that hope is something light and uplifting that can bring comfort even in difficult times. For example, the line "Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul" shows how hope can lift the spirits and bring warmth to the soul just like a bird perching on a branch. This metaphor helps the reader visualize and understand the intangible concept of hope in a more concrete way.