Question

select all the correct words in the passage.
what two words or phrases in this excerpt from \thanatopsis\ by william cullen bryant best help to reveal the meaning of the word blight as it is used in the poem?
she has a voice of gladness, and a smile
and eloquence of beauty, and she glides
into his darker musings, with a mild
and healing sympathy, that steals away
their sharpness, ere he is aware. when thoughts
of the last bitter hour come like a blight
over thy spirt, and sad images
of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall
and breathless darkness, and the narrow house,
make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart--
go forth, under the open sky, and list
to natures teachings.

Explanation:

To determine the words/phrases that reveal "blight", we analyze context. "Blight" here implies a negative, harmful influence. "Stern agony" and "breathless darkness" (or other negative - connoted phrases) don't fit as well as "shudder" and "grow sick at heart"? Wait, no, looking at the line "When thoughts Of the last bitter hour come like a blight Over thy spirit, and sad images... Make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart". Wait, actually, the words that show the effect of "blight" (which is a harmful, withering influence) are "shudder" and "grow sick at heart"? No, wait, the question is which words/phrases in the excerpt help reveal the meaning of "blight". Let's re - examine. "Blight" is compared to the thoughts of the last bitter hour. The phrases that show the impact of this "blight" (the negative thoughts) are "shudder" and "grow sick at heart"? Wait, no, the correct ones are "shudder" and "grow sick at heart"? Wait, no, looking at the poem, the words that help reveal "blight" (a destructive or harmful thing) are "shudder" and "grow sick at heart" as they show the negative effect of the "blight" (the thoughts) on the person. Alternatively, "stern agony" and "breathless darkness" are part of the sad images, but the words that show the effect of the "blight" (the thoughts coming like a blight) are "shudder" and "grow sick at heart". Wait, actually, the two words/phrases are "shudder" and "grow sick at heart" because they depict the negative physical and emotional response caused by the "blight" (the thoughts of the last bitter hour).

Answer:

shudder, grow sick at heart