Final answer:
This poem contains an extended metaphor comparing a feeling to a small bird. The form of the poem invites comparison between memories. The poem is full of figurative language, including metaphors and similes.
Step-by-step explanation:
This poem contains an extended metaphor where the speaker compares a feeling to a small bird, symbolizing freedom or fragility, making option 3), "This poem directly compares unlike things", true. The significance of the bird in this poem could be interpreted as representing the speaker's emotions or a particular aspect of nature.
The poem's form consists of quatrains, with two quatrains dedicated to each memory, creating a balanced structure. This invites readers to compare the memories and emphasizes their differences. Browning convinces us that the eagle feather is a rare find through the speaker's language and the special attention given to it in the poem.
The text is full of figurative language, including metaphors and similes. The poet uses images such as the bird, the feather, and the feeling being compared to vividly convey the meaning of the poem.