Read the lines from the poem. These lines refer to the biblical story of Samson.

...when, poor and blind,
He saw the blessed light of heaven no more,
Shorn of his noble strength and forced to grind
In prison...

Samson is dedicated to God, and God gives him enormous strength. To honor God, Samson’s hair is never cut. But evil people tricked Samson and cut his hair, and he loses his strength. The evil people make Samson a slave and blind him. To get revenge, Samson asks God for enough strength to destroy the evil people. God gives him strength one last time, and Samson destroys the evil people and dies in the process. Longfellow compares the slaves in America to Samson.

A.)How does the allusion in these lines affect the mood of the poem?

B.)The mood is despairing and hopeless because, like Samson, America suffers because it has lost its relationship with God.

C.)The mood is forceful and vigorous, urging the reader to work as Samson does to do what God wants.

D.)The poem has a hopeful mood because it discusses “the blessed light of heaven” when God helps Samson.

The poem creates a somber mood by describing one of the worst moments in Samson’s life.