Read the following excerpt:

"From the silent hill, the wind sighs,
Leaves whisper secrets of the night,
A lone lantern flickers, trembling,
Shadows dance in mournful light."

Later the poet writes, "Hope rises as dawn paints gold across the sky." Identify the dominant tone in the first stanza, cite two literary devices that establish this tone, and explain how the change in diction in the later line alters the tone.

Question

Read the following excerpt:

"From the silent hill, the wind sighs,
Leaves whisper secrets of the night,
A lone lantern flickers, trembling,
Shadows dance in mournful light."

Later the poet writes, "Hope rises as dawn paints gold across the sky." Identify the dominant tone in the first stanza, cite two literary devices that establish this tone, and explain how the change in diction in the later line alters the tone.

Accepted Answer

Melancholy; the tone is created by auditory imagery ("wind sighs", "whisper") and visual imagery of darkness ("lantern flickers", "shadows dance in mournful light"). The later diction - "Hope rises", "dawn paints gold" - replaces the somber language with uplifting words, changing the tone to hopeful.

Neco 2021 Literature In English Question 16

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