Questions: Read the stanza from "Monet's 'Waterlilies"' by Robert Hayden. How does the imagery in the stanza contribute to the poem's overall meaning? O light beheld as through refracting tears. Here is the aura of that world Here is the shadow of its joy. It illustrates tears as being soothing. It illustrates a sense of misfortune. It illustrates faith in humankind. It illustrates the beauty of nature.

The answer is D: It illustrates the beauty of nature.

Explanation:

• A. It illustrates tears as being soothing. This option suggests that the imagery of tears is comforting, but the stanza does not focus on the soothing aspect of tears. Instead, it uses tears metaphorically to describe how light is perceived, which is more about the visual effect than the emotional comfort.

• B. It illustrates a sense of misfortune. While tears can be associated with sadness or misfortune, the stanza does not emphasize misfortune. The focus is more on the perception of light and the aura of the world, which does not directly convey a sense of misfortune.

• C. It illustrates faith in humankind. The stanza does not explicitly convey faith in humankind. The imagery is more focused on the natural world and the perception of light, rather than human qualities or faith.

• D. It illustrates the beauty of nature. This is the correct answer. The imagery in the stanza, particularly the reference to light and the aura of the world, highlights the beauty and ethereal quality of nature. The mention of "refracting tears" and "the shadow of its joy" suggests a complex, layered beauty that is characteristic of Monet's paintings, which often capture the delicate interplay of light and color in natural settings.