Analyzing Poetry: “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers" by Emily Dickinson

Practice analyzing poetry with one of Emily Dickinson’s most popular poems! In this two-page reading comprehension worksheet, students will read the inspiring poem “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” and practice important literary analysis skills. Students will respond to several reading comprehension questions that focus on Dickinson’s use of metaphor, the central theme of the poem, and using text evidence to support their analysis. Geared toward fifth- and sixth-grade learners, this poetry exercise also gives learners an opportunity to practice analyzing the author’s craft by examining the poem’s rhythm and the author’s word choice.