Lanterns (symbol)
The lanterns, which literally feature light breaking into darkness, are more than just the instruments through which Revere gets the signal to begin his ride. As bearers of light and disrupters of the darkness, they signify the enduring American spirit, the will to fight for and preserve justice and freedom. These lights are the lights of democracy, of equality, of the virtuousness of a David fighting a Goliath.
The Somerset (symbol)
This "huge black hulk," this "phantom ship" is a symbol for the oppressive British Empire. The colonists perceive the British as corrupt, oppressive, and monolithic; those in Boston are particularly aware of the menacing nature of the British presence. In addition, when viewed in the context of Longfellow's time, it also symbolizes slavery and the South, since "Somerset" recalls the court case (Somerset v Stewart) that ended slavery in England.
The Spark (symbol)
The spark that "kindled the land into flame with its heat" symbolizes Paul Revere because it is he who rides swiftly through the land, stirring up the populace and getting them mobilized to fight for their rights. It also symbolizes the Revolution itself, which is beginning to spread through the land and wake colonists up to the reality of British oppression and tyranny. It is similar to the lanterns because it is light streaking through darkness.
Light and Dark (motif)
Evocations of light and dark reinforce the oppressiveness of the British, the purity of the colonists' cause, and the peril that the colonists face. The colonists are associated with light, such as the lanterns and Revere as a spark. The British are associated with shadows, with blackness (the ship), with the melancholy and ominous hour of midnight.
