Answer :
In this excerpt from the poem "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant, the word "infant" refers to young children or babies. In the context of the poem, the word is used to describe the early inhabitants of the world who have passed away and are now lying in a grand sepulchre alongside other esteemed figures like patriarchs, kings, and wise individuals.
The term "infant" here symbolizes the innocence, purity, and vulnerability of these early beings who are now part of a larger collective burial ground. It highlights the idea that in death, all individuals, regardless of their status in life, come together in a universal resting place.
Therefore, in this poetic context, "infant" does not refer to a developing, emerging, budding, or new entity but rather to the early inhabitants of the world who now share a final resting place with other significant figures from different eras.
The term "infant" here symbolizes the innocence, purity, and vulnerability of these early beings who are now part of a larger collective burial ground. It highlights the idea that in death, all individuals, regardless of their status in life, come together in a universal resting place.
Therefore, in this poetic context, "infant" does not refer to a developing, emerging, budding, or new entity but rather to the early inhabitants of the world who now share a final resting place with other significant figures from different eras.