The Dawn’s Awake
By Otto Leland Bohanan
The Dawn's awake!
A flash of smoldering flame and fire
Ignites the East. Then, higher, higher,
O'er all the sky so gray, forlorn(1),
The torch of gold is borne.
The Dawn's awake!
The dawn of a thousand dreams and thrills.
And music singing in the hills Whispers of pent-up harmonies,
A paean(2) of eternal spring
Voices the new awakening.
The Dawn's awake!
Whispers of pent-up harmonies,
With the mingled fragrance of the trees;
Faint snatches of the half-forgotten song--
Fathers! torn and numb,--
The boon of light we craved, awaited long,
Has come, has come!
Vocabulary: (1). Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely: (2) A song of praise or triumph.
Directions: Respond to these questions to the best of your ability. Answer the questions completely.
1. Identify two examples of personification: explain what is being personified & how in each example
2. Identify an example of hyperbole: explain how it is exaggerated.
3. Identify an example of metaphor: explain which two things are being compared.
4. Find three examples of imagery in the poem that access three different senses. Explain which senses are called on by the speaker for each example.
5. Contrast the tone of this line “Fathers! torn and numb,--” with the tone of the rest of the poem. How is this line different and why do you think that it is?
6. This poem was written by an African American poet during the Harlem Renaissance. Knowing this, how might one interpret the “Dawn” beyond its literal meaning? What might the “Dawn” represent?
Answers
Answer:
hope it helps
Explanation:
Identify two examples of personification: explain what is being personified & how in each example.
The Dawn is awake: dawn is given the human trait of waking.
Music singing in the hills: music is given the ability of singing.
Voices the new awakening: the Paean is given a voice.
The torch of gold is borne: a torches (or suns) are not really born persay.
2. Identify an example of hyperbole: explain how it is exaggerated.
The dawn of a thousand dreams and thrills: it could be interpreted that this is an exaggeration.
A paean of eternal spring: Spring is not eternal. Even the sun will extinguish at some time. This line is an exaggeration.
3. Identify an example of metaphor: explain which two things are being compared.
The torch of gold is borne: this compares the sun to a torch of gold without using the word "like" or "as."
The Dawn may have a greater value. See the answer to question 6.
4. Find three examples of imagery in the poem that access three different senses. Explain which senses are called on by the speaker for each example.
A flash of smoldering flame and fire: sight
With the mingled fragrance of the trees: smell
Fathers! torn and numb: touch.
5. Contrast the tone of this line "Fathers! torn and numb,--" with the tone of the rest of the poem. How is this line different and why do you think that it is?
With the exception of this line and the one about the grey skies, the tone in most of the poem is overwhelmingly bright and positive. The reason that this line is there might be to remind readers of the hardships that African Americans had experienced in the past. Or to remind us that not everyone will be able to fully enjoy the nice day, as many will be tearing their bodies in labor and such.
6. This poem was written by an African American poet during the Harlem Renaissance. Knowing this, how might one interpret the "Dawn" beyond its literal meaning? What might the "Dawn" represent?
The Dawn may represent the bright awakening of African American culture in America after much cultural repression. Some students may interpret it as representing the freedom of the African Americans after hundreds of years of slavery, and I would accept such an interpretation.
Answer:
1. Dawn is awake: Dawn has been endowed with the human trait of waking. Singing music in the hills: music is given the ability to sing. The Paean is given a voice as part of the new awakening. The gold torch is born: torches (or suns) are not born per se.
2. The dawn of a thousand dreams and thrills: this could be taken as an exaggeration. A paean to eternal spring: Spring does not last forever. Even the sun will perish at some point. This line is exaggerated.
3. The gold torch is carried: this compares the sun to a gold torch without using the words "like" or "as."
4. Sight is a flash of smoldering flame and fire. Smell the mingled fragrance of the trees. Fathers! touch: torn and numb.
5. The tone of the poem is overwhelmingly bright and positive, with the exception of this line and the one about the grey skies. This line may be included to remind readers of the hardships that African Americans have faced in the past. Or to remind us that not everyone will be able to fully enjoy the nice day because many will be tearing their bodies in labor and other such activities.
6. The Dawn could represent the bright rebirth of African American culture in America after many years of cultural repression. Some students may interpret it as representing African Americans' freedom after hundreds of years of slavery, and I would agree with that interpretation.
#SPJ3