Question

Wheatley ends her poem addressed to the earl of Dartmouth with an allusion to the biblical story of Elijah. Elijah performed bold and miraculous work on god's behalf after which a fiery horse drawn chariot transported him to heaven. What meaning does she intend by this allusion, and what effect does she achieve by placing it at the very bottom end of her poem

Answer 1

Answer:

The poet intends to affirm that Count Dartmouth is capable of great deeds and must receive a divine reward ascending to the skies and having his history recognized worldwide.

Explanation:

The speaker of the poem wants Dartmouth to receive a divine reward, which is as special as the good works he has promoted. With this, the speaker shows Dartmouth a man who promoted progress through bold, great and beneficial attitudes, being able to rise to the skies as God did with Elijah.

With this, the speaker feels that Dartmouth is a man guided by God and that is why he has such good attitudes, so God will not allow him to know death and take him for himself.