Final answer:
Phillis Wheatley's 'A Hymn to the Evening' employs traditional poetic language and devices to highlight religious beliefs that are deeply entwined in her colonial values. Through these, she conveys her experiences and expresses her views on religion, colonial life, and her personal situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word choice in Phillis Wheatley's 'A Hymn to the Evening' reflects her colonial values predominantly through the use of traditional poetic language and devices, which discuss the importance of religious beliefs. Living in a Puritan community, Wheatley as a colonial poet often used her work to express her deeply held Christian faith. This is manifested in how she employs elements like rhymes, rhythms, and imageries to illustrate her devotion to God, similar to the convention among poets in her era, dominated by religious themes.
However, Wheatley's word choice extends beyond religious beliefs. Her poems often paint vivid images of colonial life, drawing on her experiences as an African enslaved woman in a devoutly Christian colonial America. By using traditional poetic devices, she subtly expresses her views on religion and her personal experiences in a way that allows her to transcend the boundaries set by her race and social status.
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