Question: 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.”

Poem: 1 It shall flash through coming ages,
2 It shall light the distant years;
3 And eyes now dim with sorrow
4 Shall be brighter through their tears.

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

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

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

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

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

25 Soon the mists and murky shadows
26 Shall be fringed with crimson light,
27 And the glorious dawn of freedom
28 Break refulgent on the sight.
My Questions: First off, what is Conntation and denotation? It says how do poets use these elements to contribute to tone the poem. Her, i will be finding imagery, connotation and denotation in the poem right?
(P.S IF YOU CAN ANSWER MY QUESTION DO NOT ANSWER THIS, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING IM DOING FOR HOMEWORK. EXAMPLES LIKE Ms. Sue and Writeteacher)

Look up "denotation" and "connotation" here: http://www.onelook.com

Yes, there are many examples of imagery, connotation, and metaphor all through this poem. Study these webpages carefully

http://literarydevices.net/imagery/

https://literarydevices.net/metaphor/

The connotation of words is heavily involved in creating metaphors.

Unlike most, im not completely dumb, i already got the whole entire question by myself.... But thanks for not answering my second question....

I thought I had, but if not, please state clearly what your second question is.

Connotation and denotation are two important concepts in literature and poetry.

Connotation refers to the emotional or cultural associations that a word carries beyond its literal meaning. It involves the subjective and personal interpretation of a word, which may vary from person to person. For example, the word "home" might evoke feelings of warmth, safety, and comfort. In the given poem, connotations can be found in phrases such as "flash through coming ages," which conveys a sense of excitement and anticipation, and "sun-kissed brow of labor," which suggests a positive and radiant image.

Denotation, on the other hand, refers to the literal and dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotional or cultural associations. It focuses on the unbiased meaning of a word. For instance, the denotation of the word "prison" simply refers to a place of confinement. In the poem, words with clear denotations include "huts of Caroline," "gloomy prison," and "mountain ranges." These words convey specific literal meanings without any additional emotional or symbolic interpretations.

In poetry, poets use imagery, along with connotation and denotation, to contribute to the overall tone of the poem. Imagery involves the use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences or mental pictures in the reader's mind. It appeals to the reader's senses by engaging them in the poem. In the given poem, the author uses imagery to describe the lighting of the future, the brightness of eyes, the radiance on hills, the golden splendor, and the crimson light. These vivid descriptions help create a hopeful and optimistic tone, emphasizing themes of freedom and a brighter future.

To support this interpretation, let's examine the lines from "President Lincoln's Declaration of Emancipation, January 1, 1863": "It shall flood with golden splendor all the huts of Caroline, and the sun-kissed brow of labor with lustre new shall shine." Here, the imagery of golden splendor and sun-kissed brow evokes a sense of beauty and improvement, contributing to a tone of hopefulness and positivity.

Overall, poets use connotation, denotation, and imagery to enhance the emotional impact of their work and shape the tone of the poem. The careful selection of words with specific connotations, combined with vivid imagery, can greatly influence how a reader perceives and connects with the poem.