In this excerpt from the poem "thanatopsis" by william cullen bryant, what is the meaning of the word infant?

yet not to thine eternal resting-place
shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish
couch more magnificent. thou shalt lie down
with patriarchs of the infant world -- with kings,
the powerful of the earth -- the wise, the good,
fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,
all in one mighty sepulchre. the hills

a.
developing
b.
past
c.
emerging
d.
budding
e.
new

B. Past.

Explanation:

The poem "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant is a poem that deals with the approach of human about the issue of death. It presents the different and quite unusual way of viewing death and the meaning of death.

When the poet says "Thou shalt lie down / With patriarchs of the infant world", he meant to imply that when one dies, he will be united with the ones who are already gone before him. "Sleeping" with the "patriarchs", "the powerful of the earth- the wise, the good, Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past". These past personalities will be one's companions in the afterlife, becoming one in nature.

This meditative poem brings us back to the theme of man being one with nature and the mortality of man which will unite him with the nature world. Thus, the word "infant' in the poem will suggest the past.

ah, shun the horrid gulf! by scylla fly.

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