Final answer:
The poem 'Hope is the Thing with Feathers' by Emily Dickinson is a metaphorical reflection on personal struggles and the enduring nature of hope, which is symbolized as a bird that provides comfort without requiring anything in return.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem 'Hope is the Thing with Feathers' by Emily Dickinson metaphorically describes hope as a bird that resides within the human soul. It suggests that hope is enduring, surviving through tough circumstances without asking for anything in return. As per the given options, the occasion for the poem is best described as b) A reflection on personal struggles. Dickinson uses the imagery of a bird to convey resilience and comfort that hope provides, especially during challenging times. The connotations associated with this bird are of endurance, warmth, and unending optimism, which is emphasized by the poem’s tone and the bird’s characteristics of singing and braving storms. Its significance in the poem is to illustrate the unbreakable spirit of hope that resides in all of us.