"Hope is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson is a powerful and uplifting poem that captures the essence of hope and its unwavering presence in the human soul. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, Dickinson creates a personification of hope as a bird that ...............................
Hope is the thing with feathers - Gulmohar - Class 8 - English
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Unlock now 🔓Quiz - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
Back Questions - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
Where does ‘hope’ reside?
In Emily Dickinson's poem, "Hope" is the thing with feathers; hope is described as residing in the soul, where it perches and continues to sing its tune.
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And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops – at all -
If ‘hope’ is bird, what do you think is the ‘tune’ that the bird sings?
How does this ‘tune’ affect its listeners? Which line in the second stanza talks about how the bird makes people feel?
What is the speaker saying about ‘hope’ when she says that the bird never stops singing?
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Unlock now 🔓When does the ‘tune’ sound more comforting than ever to its listeners? Why?
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Unlock now 🔓Is ‘hope’ hard to upset or disturb? Which lines from the poem tell us that?
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Unlock now 🔓Which lines from the poem tell us that the speaker has found hope in the most desperate of circumstances?
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Unlock now 🔓What is the emotion expressed by the speaker in the last two lines? Why?
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Unlock now 🔓Hope is the thing with feathers. This line is a metaphor – it describes hope by comparing it to something else. The poet expands on this comparison throughout the poem – this is reflected in her choice of words. For example, the word ‘perch’ is commonly used to describe a bird sitting on a branch. What are the other words that the poet has used to extend the comparison?
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Unlock now 🔓Look at the words – gale, chilliest land, strangest sea, extremity.
What kind of landscapes and situations do these words describe? What colours come to your mind when you think of these words?
What do these words represent in the poem? Why do you think the poet has used these words? What effect do they give to the poem?
What do you think ‘hope’ would look like? What colour would it be?
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Unlock now 🔓Extra Questions - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
“Hope” is the 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 –
“Hope” is the 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 –
1. Name the poem and the poet.
2. What is considered a bird here?
3. Where does it stay?
The poem is titled "“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers", and the poet is Emily Dickinson.
In this poem, hope is considered a bird, metaphorically speaking.
Hope, the metaphorical bird, stays perched in the soul.
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“Hope” is the 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 –
What poetic device has been used in the above lines?
Why has hope been compared to a bird?
What does the poetess mean when she says that she sings a song without words?
How does hope help us?
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Unlock now 🔓Back Exercises - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
The poet has compared hope to a bird. What unusual thing/animal/person would you compare it to? Write a poem based o this comparison. You may use these questions as guidelines for writing the poem.
- What is hope?
- How is hope like the thing you have compared it to?
- How does the thing provide comfort or how does it make you feel?
- What is it like to be without it?
In the depths of my thoughts, I pondered on hope, What is this essence that helps us to cope? A comparison, I sought, to make it anew, To find the unusual, the extraordinary and true.
Hope is not merely a bird in the sky, Let's delve deeper and spread wings, let's try. It's like a river that flows, calm and serene, Nurturing dreams, washing away all that's been.
Like a river, hope provides comfort and ease, Quenching our souls, as we wander and seize. Its gentle current carries away our fears, Leaving behind serenity, wiping away tears.
To be without hope is like a barren desert, Endless stretches of sand, no relief to assert. No oasis in sight, no shade from the sun, A parched existence, where dreams come undone.
But with hope, like a river, there's life anew, A fertile landscape where dreams can accrue. It whispers of possibilities, igniting the fire, Guiding us forward, filling hearts with desire.
So let us embrace hope, in its flowing grace, Like a river's embrace, as we find our place. For in its presence, we discover our might, In its currents, we find solace, our inner light.
Hope, like a river, binds us together, Uniting our spirits, through storms we weather. With its unwavering flow, we find strength and will, To navigate the unknown, and our dreams fulfill.
So let hope be our river, guiding us on, Through the challenges faced, until they are gone. For in its embrace, we find solace and peace, A resounding reminder that hope shall never cease.
About the Author - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was a reclusive American poet who is considered one of the most influential and innovative voices in 19th-century American literature. Despite living much of her life in near isolation in Amherst, Massachusetts, she produced a remarkable body of work comprising around 1,800 poems.
The poem "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" is one of her most famous and cherished works, reflecting her unique writing style and ability to distil complex emotions into concise and powerful language. In this poem, Dickinson personifies hope as a bird that continually provides comfort and support throughout life's trials. The imagery and symbolism of the poem showcase Dickinson's remarkable talent for exploring abstract concepts in a tangible and vivid way.
Emily Dickinson's poetry is characterized by its brevity, unconventional punctuation and capitalization, and her distinctive use of slant rhymes. Much of her poetry was not published during her lifetime, and her work only became widely known and respected nearly a decade after her death. Today, Dickinson is regarded as one of America's greatest poets, whose work has left a lasting impact on the literary world, transcending her own intensely private life.
Summary - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
1. The Power of Hope
The poem highlights the power of hope in helping individuals overcome adversity and find solace even in dark times. Dickinson's comparison of hope to a bird illustrates its gentle strength that can uplift and soothe a troubled soul. As the bird continues to sing without ceasing, hope offers a constant source of inspiration, enabling people to endure and grow despite the challenges they face.
2. Universality of Hope
As Dickinson broadens the scope of the poem to mention the "chillest land" and the "strangest Sea," she emphasizes the idea that hope transcends....
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
In "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," Emily Dickinson employs several symbols to convey the poem's central themes:
1. The Bird: The most prominent symbol in the poem is the bird, which represents hope. It is ever-present in the soul, singing a comforting and wordless song. The bird personifies hope as gentle, resilient, and nurturing, offering solace and strength to those who are facing life's challenges.
2. The Tune without Words: In the poem, the bird sings a tune without words, symbolizing the wordless yet powerful nature of hope. The melody...
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
Emily Dickinson employs a variety of poetic devices in "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," enhancing the poem's depth and impact. Some of these devices include:
1. Metaphor: The poem extensively uses metaphor, most notably in its comparison of hope to a bird. This metaphor serves to personify hope while emphasizing its gentle, comforting, and persistent nature.
2. Imagery: Dickinson employs vivid and evocative imagery throughout the poem, particularly regarding the bird, the gale, the storm, and....
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Hope is the thing with feathers | Gulmohar | Class 8 Literature | English
Perches: flies and sits down
The bird perches on the branch before flying away.Gale: a storm at sea
The gale at.......................
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