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.”
Here is the poem:
1. It shall flash through doing 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 battle the hills in radiance,
8. And crown their brows with light

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

13. It shall glide the gloomy prison
14. Darkened by the nations crime
15. Where the dumb and patient millions
16. Wait better-coming time

17. By the light that glide 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 frightened with crimson light,
27. And glorious dawn of freedom
28. Break refulgent on the sight

Answer 1

Hi,
www.dictionary.com is a great place to look up definitions, but I'll give you a really brief and basic overview.

Imagery is the rhetorical tool writers use to creates mental images in a writer's mind by using descriptive words. Denotation and connotation are tricky but fun; denotation is the exact meaning of a word, while connotation is the mood it invokes or how it comes across. For instance, "tug" and "heave" have the same denotation or definition, but "heave" sounds a lot more laborious or hard, which makes gives it a different connotation.

You can find your own examples in the poem (you got this!), but here's a quick guideline:

For imagery, find a line or phrase that is so descriptive, you can almost see it.
For denotation and connotation, find two words whose meanings are similar but that take on different tones.

As for supporting your answers with the Declaration of Emancipation, you'll have to do your research. I'll help clarify, but ultimately, the answer's yours :)