Final answer:
The refrain of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" conveys a mood of hope and anticipation, reflecting the dual purpose of spirituals as a source of comfort and a coded message for escape and freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mood conveyed in the refrain of the spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is one of hope and anticipation. This song, like many African American spirituals, served a dual purpose: providing emotional solace while also functioning as a coded message about escaping to freedom.
Despite the oppressive circumstances under which they were created, these songs often communicated a profound sense of joy, resilience, and the anticipation of freedom and liberation. The spiritual songs played a significant role during the era of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, functioning as a source of hope and an expression of the deeply held belief in eventual freedom and emancipation, akin to a Promised Land. The choice of rapturous tones to sing of the struggles and a joyful celebration of freedom underscores this complex emotional landscape.