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.
What is an example of denotation in this poem? I know the meaning, but I don't really understand it. Could someone please help me find one? Thank you!
Could Refulgent be one on line 28?
Or what about Splendor on line 9?
Are those examples of denotation since they both have feelings that come with the words such as bright and happy?
I think you have connotation and denotation confused. The words you identify connote an emotion or a feeling, they do not mean it literally.
http://www.differencebetween.net/language/words-language/difference-between-connotation-and-denotation/
Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary definition of a word or phrase, as opposed to its connotation, which is the associated or implied meaning. In this poem, an example of denotation can be found in line 17: "By the light that gilds their prison."
In this line, the word "light" has a denotative meaning of illumination or brightness. It refers to the physical phenomenon of light illuminating a space or removing darkness. The denotation here is literal and straightforward, describing the source of illumination that will allow the prisoners to see the key to their prison and bring about their freedom.
It's important to make a distinction between denotation and connotation. While denotation focuses on the surface-level meaning, connotation delves into the emotions, associations, or cultural interpretations that a word carries. In this poem, the connotation of "light" extends beyond its literal meaning, symbolizing hope, enlightenment, and the liberation from oppression.