Final answer:
The poem 'Hope is the thing with feathers' deems hope as a perpetual, comforting presence in one's soul, often symbolized as a bird in literature. Birds and feathers serve as recurring literary symbols for strength, freedom, and the resilient spirit of hope amidst adversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem 'Hope is the thing with feathers' by Emily Dickinson metaphorically describes hope as a bird that continuously perches in the human soul and sings a tune that never ceases, symbolizing the persistence and ever-present nature of hope within us. A constant comfort, that spirited song of hope does not falter even during the most challenging times. This notion of hope as a feathered creature that endures aligns with other literary works that evoke birds and feathers as symbols of life, change, and hope, as illustrated by the diverse excerpts provided.
Pieces of literature often utilize the imagery of birds to represent delicate strength, freedom, and the soaring spirit of hope, which can transcend the constraints of our circumstances. Whether manifested as the soft flight of doves bringing great ideas to fruition amidst the clamor of nations, or the transformation of Mrs. Hale's character in the face of adversity likening herself to a timid bird, or the lively dancing of robotic arms adorned with ostrich feathers, welcoming one into its embrace--these texts evoke the lightness and resilience that hope symbolizes.
Furthermore, the bird's exuberant song teaching us to embrace nature's wisdom, or the symbolic ascent to freedom and perspective through Sylvia's encounter with hawks and herons, underscores the enduring association of avian elements with themes of hope and inspiration.