Help with annotating and finding overall them! Help!!!!!
“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.
1. Identify the use of personification in the poem and explain its effect.
2. What is the significance of the speaker’s word choice such as “perches”, “sweetest”, “sore”, “abash”, and so on? What kind of connotations do they create and how do they contribute to the poem’s message?
3. What is the overall theme of the poem?
1. The use of personification in the poem is found in the line "“Hope” is the thing with feathers." Personification is a literary device in which human qualities or characteristics are attributed to non-human entities. In this case, the poet is personifying hope by giving it the qualities of a bird with feathers. This personification helps to create a vivid and tangible image of hope in the reader's mind. By describing hope as a bird, the poet suggests that hope is something delicate but persistent, just like a bird that perches in the soul and never stops singing.
2. The speaker's word choice in the poem, such as "perches", "sweetest", "sore", "abash", and so on, contributes to the overall tone and message of the poem. The word "perches" gives the impression that hope finds a resting place in the soul, implying its intimate connection to one's innermost self. The word "sweetest" indicates that even in the midst of a fierce storm or difficult times ("Gale"), hope is still heard and brings comfort. The word "sore" suggests the intensity of the storm that would need to occur in order to dampen or diminish hope. The word "abash" means to embarrass or make one feel ashamed, highlighting the resilience of hope even in the face of adversity.
These word choices create positive connotations associated with hope, such as resilience, comfort, and persistence. They contribute to the message of the poem, emphasizing the power and unwavering nature of hope in the face of challenges and hardships.
3. The overall theme of the poem is the enduring power and resilience of hope. The poem conveys the idea that hope is something intangible yet omnipresent, residing within the depths of one's soul and never ceasing to inspire and comfort. It suggests that hope is not conditioned by external circumstances or extreme situations, as it is heard even in the "chillest land" and on the "strangest Sea". Despite the storms and difficulties one might face, hope remains steadfast and does not ask for anything in return. The message of the poem is that hope is a constant source of solace and strength, always present within us, regardless of the challenges we encounter.