Junior Cycle English Poetry Ms.

Jones

ALL: Read the following poem – ‘Hope is the thing with feathers’ by Emily
Dickinson and answer the questions that follow.

1. Look up the following words and write the definitions in beside them:

Perch:
Junior Cycle English Poetry Ms. Jones

Gale:

Abash:

Extremity: (think of VEP – what root word to you recognise here?)

2. What was your first impression of the poem? (Hints: Did you like it?
Understand it? Did you feel confused? Did you like the images? What is it
about, do you think? – NO WRONG ANSWER HERE, JUST YOUR
THOUGHTS!)

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3. What poetic technique does the poet use when she says, “Hope is the
thing with feathers that perches in the soul”? Explain your answer (PIE).
Onomatopoeia Personification Simile

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4. Choose two images from the poem that you enjoyed and explain why you
chose them (PIE)
Junior Cycle English Poetry Ms. Jones

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5. What do you believe the message of the poem is? (PIE)

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6. Write the text of a Tweet (280 characters) that you would share with
your school community offering them hope during this difficult time,
include the hashtag #wereinthistogether
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Junior Cycle English Poetry Ms. Jones

Some of you may like to push yourself further:

Chose a song that motivates you and makes you feel happy. Listen to it, have a
little dance if you like!

Name the song and artist:____________________________________

What is the song about?

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What is your favourite line in the song and why?

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Would you recommend this song to a friend? (Think about the message, the

rhythm, the beat, the type of the music – upbeat, energetic etc.)

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Junior Cycle English Poetry Ms. Jones

A few of you may like to test your critical thinking skills further:

Using the internet as a research tool, find another poem that focuses on the
theme of hope, the importance of hope or that offers hope to people.

 Name the title of the poem and the poet

 Describe what the poem is about
 Chose your favourite quote from the poem and explain why you chose it
(PIE)

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