Read the passage from "The Caged Bird.”

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

Read the passage from Shakespeare’s "Sonnet 29.”

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,

In both poems, what does the connotation of the underlined language imply?

distress
disgust
hatred
sorrow

The connotation of the underlined language in both poems implies distress and sorrow.

The connotation of the underlined language in both poems implies sorrow.

In order to analyze the connotation of the underlined language in both passages, you need to examine the emotional associations that these words evoke. Let's take a closer look at each passage:

In the first passage from "The Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou, the underlined language is "his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream." The use of the word "nightmare" in this context suggests a negative and unsettling connotation, indicating a sense of distress or fear. The word "scream" also adds to the intense emotional atmosphere, further emphasizing the bird's torment.

In the second passage from Shakespeare's "Sonnet 29," the underlined language is "beweep my outcast state." The word "beweep" implies a deep sense of sorrow or mourning. It suggests a feeling of despair, emphasizing the speaker's emotional pain and isolation. The phrase "outcast state" further reinforces the connotation of distress, as it implies a sense of alienation and being rejected.

In both poems, the connotation of the underlined language implies a strong feeling of sorrow or distress. The emotions conveyed in these passages go beyond mere sadness; they suggest a profound sense of despair and anguish.