Poets use imagery and words with different connotations and denotations. In a paragraph, define and provide an example of imagery, connotation, and denotation. Then, explain how poets use these elements to contribute to tone in a poem. Support your answer with evidence from “President Lincoln’s Declaration of Emancipation, January 1, 1863.”

Question

It shall flash through coming ages,
It shall light the distant years;
And eyes now dim with sorrow
Shall be brighter through their tears

It shall flush the mountain ranges,
And the valleys shall grow bright;
It shall bathe the hills in radiance,
And crown their brows with light

It shall flood with golden splendor
All the huts of Caroline;
And the sun-kissed brow of labor
With lustre new shall shine.

It shall gild the gloomy prison,
Darkened by the nation's crime,
Where the dumb and patient millions
Wait the better-coming time.

By the light that gilds their prison
They shall see its mouldering key;
And the bolts and bars shall vibrate
With the triumphs of the free.

Though the morning seemed to linger
O'er the hill-tops far away,
Now the shadows bear the promise
Of the quickly coming day.

Soon the mists and murky shadows
Shall be fringed with crimson light,
And the glorious dawn freedom
Break refulgent on the sight.

Answer 1

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Answer 2

You haven' said what baffles you about this assignment. Start by reading your text to find out what imagery, connotation, and denotation are. Failing that:

http://www.poetryarchive.org/glossary/imagery

And look up words you don't know:

http://www.mirriam-webster.com

Answer 3

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Answer 4

OK. Let's start with the definitions of imagery, connotation, denotation, and tone.

Please post those definitions here. Then we'll help you find examples.

Answer 5

Imagery uses vivid language to relate to the five senses. Sight,smell, taste, touch and hear. This line from the poem relates, "Break refulgent on the sight." Denotation are the words, phrases, and lines that can be taken literally, like this line from the poem, "...eyes now dim with sorrow" meaning the eyes are dark. Finally connotation. Connotation are the words, phrases, and lines that are meant to be taken figuratively like this line from the poem, "It shall light the distant years;"

Answer 6

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