Literary devices in frederick douglass narrative. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Study Guide 2022-11-15
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Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" is a powerful depiction of the brutality and dehumanization of slavery, as well as the indomitable spirit and intelligence of Douglass himself. Throughout the text, Douglass employs various literary devices to convey his experiences and emotions, and to underscore the injustice of slavery.
One of the most prominent literary devices used in the text is imagery. Douglass uses vivid and often disturbing images to convey the horrors of slavery, such as when he describes how slaves were whipped until their flesh was "gashed and torn" or when he describes how a slave's face was "beaten and battered" until it was "a bloody mass of flesh." These graphic images serve to shock and outrage the reader, and to make the reality of slavery all the more palpable.
Douglass also makes use of figurative language, particularly metaphor and simile, to convey the emotional impact of slavery. For example, he compares the sound of a slave's chains to "the clanking of a million chains" to convey the overwhelming weight of slavery and the sense of confinement it imposed on its victims. Similarly, he compares the way slaves were treated to "the treatment of dumb brutes," highlighting the dehumanizing nature of slavery.
Another literary device that Douglass employs is rhetorical questions. Throughout the text, he poses questions that challenge the reader's assumptions and beliefs about slavery, and that force the reader to confront the reality of the institution. For example, he asks "What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence?" This question highlights the hypocrisy of a country that claims to be founded on the principles of liberty and equality, yet allows the enslavement of a portion of its population.
In addition to these devices, Douglass also uses repetition to emphasize the importance of certain ideas or events. For example, he repeats the phrase "I have often been utterly astonished" to emphasize the shocking nature of the events he is describing. This repetition serves to drive home the impact of these events and to underscore the injustice of slavery.
Overall, the literary devices used by Douglass in his "Narrative" are highly effective in conveying the brutal reality of slavery and the indomitable spirit of its victims. Through vivid imagery, figurative language, rhetorical questions, and repetition, Douglass presents a powerful and moving testament to the inhumanity of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit.
Frederick Douglass: Literary Analysis Essay Example
It creates a sense of pathos and causes the reader to walk through his journey of pain and comprehend the lives of other slaves. The double negative words are intended to express a contrast. He uses many words that can make the audience feel different ways about their view on slavery. However, the interesting thing is that when they win it, it would seem them beautiful and wonderful thing to have. It is a fact that not every slave was able to be free, many slaves died as slaves. This literary term is used to state a positive statement, without actually stating an affirmative.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Study Guide
The scene of Douglass being cornered by other men easily pops up in our minds as we read this line in the passage. In chapter 6, Frederick claims that …show more content… He used antithesis to compare the effects in such a way that all people could understand and relate. He knew that he was not meant to be a slave forever, even though some people died a slave they were free once they died. Whether it was a newspaper, a book, the dictionary, he took whatever he could get his hands on so that he could teach himself how to read in the quickest way possible. Also, how his own rebellion against Mr. This connected with readers by depicting a very clear example of the ethical paradox of being a Christian slaveholder. Attempting to share these complex emotions, Douglass invites the reader to feel his immediate sense of relief and the loneliness and fear that followed.
Rhetorical Devices In The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick...
These two devices are often used to conjure up a response of humor to the wit being displayed, so, again, in a strictly factual account with as high a purpose as Mr. This is why literary devices encompass both literary elements and literary techniques. No person regardless of skin color should ever go through what slaves went through. Each issue presents in-depth reviews of over thirty of the newest books in American history—reviews that are far superior to those found in other scholarly journals. In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass recalls his observations of physical and psychological trauma that he and other slaves had to endure.
. Ultimately, Douglass rewrites his future through acquiring knowledge, and by overcoming Mr. Douglass, one of the most famous American slaves, has a writing style that is more old-fashioned, intimate, and direct. This in fact heightens the intensity of his fear and paranoia because he is more likely to be caught with no where to hide and having no energy to run because he is starving. O, that I were on one of your gallant decks, and under your protecting wing! O, why was I born a man, of whom to make a brute! By using metaphors in the third paragraph, Douglass is able to show his experiences, appealing emotionally.
Essay on Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
He also seeks out diverse opinions and do not try to discriminate those less popular point of view. Literary devices are the tools an author uses to express his ideas through the medium of language. Surprisingly, Douglass found the confidence to stand up and defend himself, furthermore defeating Covey! He writes: I have seen Colonel Lloyd make old Barney, a man between fifty and sixty years of age, uncover his bald head, kneel down upon the cold, damp ground, and receive upon his naked and toil-worn shoulders more than thirty lashes at the time. Read the passage carefully, noting such elements as syntax, figurative language, and selection of detail. By the time Douglass is sent to live with Mr.
Literary Analysis Essay: The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass: [Essay Example], 1077 words GradesFixer
Douglass experienced slavery first hand during his childhood, and remembered his old desire for knowledge and education in his youth; he valued education and knowledge as power. Published Sample: In The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass described his various master throughout the years. Douglass hides in a closet, thinking that he would be next. He reinforces his claim through pathos, figurative language, and repetition. Douglass is expressing to us that he believes that he will be free one day, he will be the one to tell his own story.
Slaveholders deemed slaves as valuable assets such as clothes, furniture, pigs, and horses which was how slaves were sold and traded. The novel also provides details of slavery during this time period and opinions on me, so it provides me with insight into how both sides of my ancestors may have thought and acted during this time. This comparison is made using a scornful tone, shown by the dehumanizing of the South through slavery. Why am I a slave? Parables are a simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson. Definition: Litotes is a figure of speech that uses negative words but promotes a positive statement. Epiphany is a literary device used to show a moment of sudden revelation or insight. For future reference, let's define literary device.
Literary Devices In The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick...
As a slave, he would have been often in chains and bands of the literal, physical kind. Douglass believed freedom was achieved by granting knowledge and education of the tyrannical practice of slavery to slaves so that they might be able to break through its bonds. The initial Douglass later convinces little white boys to continue his literacy instruction. Douglass often uses irony to reveal the flaws in the logic of slavery. As listeners varied from abolitionists, to… How Did Frederick Douglass Define Slavery Frederick Douglass used his own life experiences to highlight the effects of slavery on society and how he discovered the pathway to freedom. Furthermore, Douglass uses repetitive diction and phrases to emphasize certain parts of his journey and thoughts.
Review: A LITERARY BIOGRAPHY OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS: A STUDY OF INTERRACIAL FRIENDSHIP on JSTOR
Every time Douglass had a chance, he would be reading. In the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, it has so many reasons and so much evidence to support this claim of mine. He may have owned them, but did not care about them, he could do what he pleased, and there was no law prohibiting that. This is significant because this paragraph is made up of only one sentence. This link shown also allows the reader to bridge together new ideas of how the slaveowners could be comparable to devils.
Rhetorical Devices Analysis of the Narrative of "The Life of Frederick Douglass"
Litotes also often express a tone of irony …show more content… He was enslaved at a young age and endured much hardship throughout the years Douglass 5. This microcosm is an example of how Douglass uses parables to impact the reader. He describes how he ran to the corner of the fence and would weep in fear. Douglass lived through the hardships and injustices of living as a slave and witnessed the immoral treatment of his fellow slaves, their alienation and inequalities committed towards them. Not truly convinced, but complying anyhow, Douglass did as he was told. Through the use of all these Frederick appeals to the compassion of the audience and helps to instill within them a hatred for slavery for the effect it has upon slaves and slave holders. Douglass uses vivid imagery to convey to his audience the reality of the life of a slave.
