Unit 3 Poetry

The poet uses the words "gale" and "storm" as metaphors. What might these words represent?

• hard or painful times

• pleasant times

• times of bad weather

• times of good weather

Hope is important and helpful in times of pain, sorrow, or difficulty. Which lines from the poem best supports this statement?

• Lines 1-2

• Lines 3-4

• Lines 5-8

• Lines 9-12

The poet says that hope "sings the tune without the words." Why might the poet have written that the tune has no words?

• to emphasize that hope does not need to be put into words to be felt

• to suggest that people are usually unable to understand the feeling of hope

• to indicate that people who are always hopeful are also often forgetful

• To suggest that hope does not speak, so therefore, needs no words.

Part A: What is the theme of this poem?

• People need to work hard to maintain hope at all times.

• Love and family help people get through tough times.

• Hope can survive through even the toughest times.

• People should give up on hope because it will abandon you sometimes.

Part B: Which lines support your answer in Part A?

• “'Hope' is the thing with feathers" (Line 1)

• "That perches in the soul --/...and never stops -- at all" (Lines 2-4)

• “sore must be the storm — / That could abash” (Lines 6-7)

• “I’ve heard it in the chilliest land — / And on the strangest Sea — ” (Lines 9-10)

What does the last stanza suggest about the speaker's point of view regarding hope?

• The speaker has experienced some troubled times but is now in a much better place.

• The speaker thinks of hope as the only source of comfort in his/her life, even more than food (i.e. the "crumb").

• The speaker thinks hope is helpful, but only to a certain point.

• The speaker, having experienced adversity, regards hope in a positive light, as it never asked anything of him/her.

Part A: Which word best describes the tone of the poem?

• grateful

• fearful

• serious

• compassionate

Part B: How does the extended metaphor of hope impact the tone of the poem?

• The metaphor associates a bird with different ways in which hope will always be a part of our life.

• The metaphor associates a bird with different events that can occur in a person's life.

• The metaphor associates a bird with all the comforts of life, allowing us to be reminded that all hope is lost.

• The metaphor associates a bird with the serious side of one's hardship influencing us to give up.

Why is the line “Hope is a thing with feathers--” the best way for the author to begin the poem?

• This line introduces readers to the extended metaphor, connecting the bird to hope, which is the focus of the poem throughout.

• It’s her piece of writing; therefore, she can begin however she wants to.

• This line introduces the reader to the bird, which is the focus of the poem throughout.

• Through this line, the reader is connected to storms and strong winds that blow the bird away.