30 points and branliest to first person who and is right

go on, the dagger's point may glare
amid thy pathway's gloom;
the fate which sternly threatens there
is glorious martyrdom

what can be inferred from this passage about the times in which whittier and garrison lived?

the abolitionists were preparing for armed conflict.
speaking out against slavery was often very dangerous.
people believed that slavery could only be abolished by force.
being a martyr for a cause was frowned upon.

Speaking out against slavery was often very dangerous.

The first two lines of this stanza explain how, by speaking out against slavery, it is very likely that violence will ensue. A "dagger's point" is a weapon able to harm, and "pathway's gloom" may be a metaphor for the fact that speaking out against slavery was a very risky action to take - uncharted, due to the people being afraid to because of what might happen (dagger). 

"The fate which sternly threatens there" refers back to the dagger on the pathway, meaning that by taking that action there is a sure threat of danger which the people are well aware of. A martyr is someone killed for their beliefs, and martyrdom is the action of it occurring. This once again refers to the dagger, or death, being a threat to whoever speaks out against slavery.

As a final analysis, the dagger is the threat of being murdered, the path is the action of speaking out against slavery, and the martyrdom is the murdering of anyone who chooses to do so.

Speaking out against slavery was often very dangerous.

The first two lines of this stanza explain how, by speaking out against slavery, it is very likely that violence will ensue. A "dagger's point" is a weapon able to harm, and "pathway's gloom" may be a metaphor for the fact that speaking out against slavery was a very risky action to take - uncharted, due to the people being afraid to because of what might happen (dagger). 

"The fate which sternly threatens there" refers back to the dagger on the pathway, meaning that by taking that action there is a sure threat of danger which the people are well aware of. A martyr is someone killed for their beliefs, and martyrdom is the action of it occurring. This once again refers to the dagger, or death, being a threat to whoever speaks out against slavery.

As a final analysis, the dagger is the threat of being murdered, the path is the action of speaking out against slavery, and the martyrdom is the murdering of anyone who chooses to do so.

The answer should be d.