Answer:
"They Clapped" by Nikki Giovanni is a poem that explores the theme of resilience and the ability of people to overcome adversity and challenges. The poem is written in the voice of a narrator who reflects on a group of people who have faced difficult circumstances and have persevered despite the obstacles they have encountered.
Here are a few quotes from the poem that illustrate this theme:
"They clapped when the lights went out / And the stage went black"
"They clapped when the curtain fell"
"They clapped when the building burned"
These lines suggest that the people in the poem have faced difficult situations, such as a power outage, the end of a performance, and even a building fire, and have remained resilient and positive in the face of these challenges.
In terms of connotations and denotations, the word "clapped" has both positive and negative connotations. On the one hand, clapping can connote approval, admiration, or celebration, as when people clap to show appreciation for a performance or achievement. On the other hand, clapping can also connote sarcasm, irony, or ridicule, as when people clap mockingly or sarcastically. The denotation of "clapped" is simply the act of striking the palms of one's hands together to make a sound, without any particular emotional connotation.
Overall, the poem "They Clapped" uses the act of clapping as a metaphor for resilience and the ability to overcome adversity, and suggests that even in the face of difficult circumstances, people can find the strength to persevere and thrive.