Question

Why has the poet compared imagination to a soaring bird in this excerpt from the poem "On Imagination" by Phillis Wheatley? Imagination! who can sing thy force? Or who describe the swiftness of thy course? Soaring through air to find the bright abode, Th' empyreal palace of the thund'ring God, We on thy pinions can surpass the wind, And leave the rolling universe behind: From star to star the mental optics rove, Measure the skies, and range the realms above. There in one view we grasp the mighty whole,

Answer 1

Answer:

for plato users: C. The imagination has no bounds beyond the limit of one's own mind. a soaring bird is pictured to be free of limitations, retaining the ability to go where it pleases, and fly carefree as it does so, just as your imagination flows carefree, without limitations, going where you please it.

Explanation:

Answer 2

The poet compared imagination to a soaring bird because imagination is limitless, it can do anything and go anywhere, much like a soaring bird, who has the freedom and capabilites to do anything. Both are completely free of bounds.