What does the author most likely mean in line 18 when he or she states that "love ... paints a phoenix to her eyes"? What is the figurative significance of this line?

Question

Advanced Placement (AP)

Liberty Hill

8 March, 18:04

What does the author most likely mean in line 18 when he or she states that "love ... paints a phoenix to her eyes"? What is the figurative significance of this line?

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Clara Forbes · Answer 1

This verse is taken from the poem "Verses Written by a Young Lady, on WomenBorn to Be Controll'd!". It is written by an anonymous poet (likely a woman).

In this line, the author is using the term phoenix to indicate that even though a women is always put behind shackles by the men. The feeling of love yet again brings hope to her heart and fills her eyes with sparkle.

A phoenix is a mythological bird which would burn to ashes at the end of its life and then gets reborn from those ashes to start a new life. This is repeated again and again. Phoenix is used as a symbol for rebirth / revival of hope and expectation in a woman's heart. This hope comes due to the feeling of love.