Learning English Idioms from Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem “The Hill We Climb”
As an English and U.S. culture coach, I have long thought about what blog post to write next in light of (=within the context of) recent events in U.S. history. After some consideration, I have decided to employ (=use) a perspective that will, hopefully, help my readers and students to understand not only the English language better but U.S. culture (or Western culture for that matter) as well.
Every language uses certain images or metaphors to convey meaning. These metaphors unsurprisingly reflect our cultures as much as our linguistic traditions since both are intertwined (=linked with each other). Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb” uses two metaphors that tell us a lot about this moment in American history in particular and U.S. culture in general.
In the title of her poem Ms. Gorman uses the metaphor of a hill which, of course, is literally a small mountain (very small, indeed), but what does the image suggest to the audience? It does, of course, not suggest that you should actually climb a hill. Instead she evokes (=makes people think of) images they associate with climbing a hill. In English, the metaphor of climbing a hill stands for someone facing a challenge. You can find this metaphor in a number of expressions as listed below:
To go downhill = to deteriorate
Examples:
Initially, the company went through (=experienced) a successful phase (=period), but, unfortunately, it all went downhill from there.
After she left her company, her health started going downhill.
To face an uphill battle = to be confronted with a very difficult situation
Examples:
It will be an uphill battle to find a compromise.
His team faced an uphill battle in their company while trying to convince the other teams of their strategy.
Governments worldwide have been facing an uphill battle to overcome the pandemic.
Even if Amanda Gorman talks about America facing a challenge in her poem, she presents her audience with a metaphor evoking a sentiment (=feeling) often associated with America. Read the following lines of her poem. What do you think the “light” stands for?
There is always light.
Only if we are brave enough to see it.
There is always light.
Only if we are brave enough to be it.
The “light” in these lines evokes optimism and hope, sentiments often used to frame challenges and difficulties in U.S. culture. Optimism is a leitmotif (=main theme) in many speeches, business presentations and even during job interviews. While many other cultures have a tendency to frame challenges more skeptically and pessimistically and often use complaining to relate to others in conversations, Americans tend to focus on actionable solutions framed within optimistic terms. Of course, this is a generalization. There are many pessimistic Americans, however, our focus is on societal tendencies and not on individual differences.
Now, let’s look at idioms that use “light” to convey optimism and hope.
To see light at the end of the tunnel = to see an end to a difficult situation or a solution to a problem finally has emerged.
Example:
After 6 months of working on this difficult project, we could finally see light at the end of the tunnel. We were getting closer to finishing the project.
To see something or someone in a new/different light = to understand someone or something in a new, positive way.
Example:
At first I didn’t like him, but after a while I began to see him in a new/different light.
I hope you found this blog entry interesting. To practice more, try to pay attention to how the metaphors of the “hill” and “light” are used in English especially in speeches, and songs. As always, feel free to send me an email at office@lingualinkdc.net if you have questions or comments.