Answer:
The speaker in "Hope is the thing with feathers" uses an extended metaphor to develop the theme that hope can always be found even in the darkest of times. By comparing hope to a bird, the speaker is able to emphasize that no matter what hardships one faces in life, hope will always remain. The speaker draws attention to the bird's resilience by noting that it can survive in the "cage of despair," and its persistence by claiming that it is always singing its "song of hope." The speaker further emphasizes the importance of hope by comparing it to a universal, timeless force that is always present, no matter what life throws at us: "That perches in the soul - / And sings the tune without the words - / And never stops at all." By using this extended metaphor, the speaker conveys the message that hope is an essential part of life and an integral part of our journey, no matter what our circumstances may be.