Question

read this excerpt from james weldon johnsons \lift every voice and sing\

lift every voice and sing
till earth and heaven ring,
ring with the harmonies of liberty;
let our rejoicing rise
high as the listening skies,
let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

which statement best explains the meaning of the underlined phrase in the passage?

the rejoicing should be inspiring and powerful
the rejoicing should be sung
the rejoicing should be shared loudly
the rejoicing should be directed upward

Explanation:

Analyze the underlined phrase

The underlined phrase in the excerpt is "Let our rejoicing rise / High as the listening skies." This phrase uses a simile ("High as...") to compare the height and reach of the rejoicing to the vast, open skies.

Evaluate the literal and figurative meaning

Using Literary Analysis, we look at the imagery of rising "High as the listening skies."

• "Skies" represents a vast, high, and grand space.
• "Listening skies" personifies the sky, suggesting that the rejoicing is so grand, powerful, and inspiring that even the heavens are paying attention.
• This goes beyond simply being "directed upward" (which is too literal) or "shared loudly" (which is addressed in the next line, "loud as the rolling sea"). It emphasizes the inspiring, lofty, and powerful nature of the celebration.

Compare the multiple-choice options

• Option 1 ("the rejoicing should be inspiring and powerful"): This matches the figurative meaning of reaching the "listening skies," representing a grand, powerful, and inspiring celebration.
• Option 2 ("the rejoicing should be sung"): While the poem is a song, this specific phrase about rising to the skies is about the scale and impact, not just the act of singing.
• Option 3 ("the rejoicing should be shared loudly"): This more closely matches the next line, "loud as the rolling sea."
• Option 4 ("the rejoicing should be directed upward"): This is a literal interpretation of "rise / High" and misses the poetic, figurative depth of the imagery.

Therefore, the first option is the best explanation.

Answer:

• (A) the rejoicing should be inspiring and powerful (Correct answer)
• (B) the rejoicing should be sung
• (C) the rejoicing should be shared loudly
• (D) the rejoicing should be directed upward