🔍 Craft & Structure: Literature: “Hope” is the thing with feathers (Grade 9)

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Read closely. Think about how the author wrote it.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers — Emily Dickinson (public domain)

“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.

Vocabulary: abash — determine its meaning from context: ________________

1. Identify the point of view. How does it shape what the reader knows?

2. Identify a literary device (figurative language, imagery, symbolism). Explain its effect on meaning or tone.

3. How does the structure (order of events, pacing, turning point) contribute to the meaning?

4. Analyze how a specific word choice affects tone.

Answer key: first-person speaker; device: extended metaphor (hope as a bird); dashes create pauses; structure: three quatrains · abash = to embarrass or silence

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Worksheets › Grade 9 English › Craft & Structure › Craft & Structure

Grade 9 (ages 14–15)Reading comprehensionFree printable PDF

About this grade 9 worksheet

Free Grade 9 English worksheet (Common Core RL.9-10.4): analyze point of view, word choice and structure in "“Hope” is the thing with feathers". Skill: Word choice, structure and point of view. Level: Grade 9 — also suits Year 10 (UK).

For teachers: skills & standards

CCSS RL.9-10.4: Word choice, structure and point of view
CCSS RL.9-10.5: Word choice, structure and point of view
CCSS RL.9-10.6: Word choice, structure and point of view
Works as a morning-work page, a centre/station activity, homework or an early-finisher task.

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What age is it for?

It is designed for Grade 9 (ages 14–15), but use it with any child who is ready.

What skills does it build?

Word choice, structure and point of view.

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More “Craft & Structure” printables (rl/ri.9-10.4–6: word choice, structure and point of view)

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All 5 craft & structure sheets → · Grade 9 English: all 10 skills → · All Common Core grades

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