Figurative Language
What literary device is used in the phrase "I am merely a fragment of the Great Soul"?
Metaphor
When the author mentions her grandfather and her unique status, which rhetorical appeal is she primarily using, and why?
Ethos. She establishes her unique perspective as someone who doesn't fit the typical stereotype of a Black person at the time.
Is this a fallacy? "All Northerners drive automobiles, and the author saw Northerners driving automobiles, therefore all people who drive automobiles are Northerners."
Yes, Affirming the Consequent
The author observes that white people ride through Eatonville. She concludes that white people don't live in Eatonville. What type of reasoning is this?
Inductive
Identify a rhetorical question in the text and explain its purpose.
"How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company?"
It emphasizes her confidence and perhaps subtly challenges societal prejudices.
Identify the simile in the sentence, "He was as brave as a lion."
Simile
How does the author use pathos when describing the "sobbers" and her own attitude towards being "colored"?
Pathos. She contrasts the "sobbers" (those who express sorrow about their race) with her own more resilient attitude, appealing to the audience's emotions and perhaps challenging their assumptions.
Is this a fallacy? The author states she's the only Black person whose grandfather wasn't a chief. Is this a fallacy, and if so, which type?
Yes, Hasty Generalization (or possibly a faulty analogy depending on interpretation). The fact that she doesn't have a chief in her ancestry doesn't mean no Black person does.
The author recounts her experiences in Eatonville and Jacksonville, then forms a broader conclusion about how her racial identity was shaped. What type of reasoning is this?
Inductive
What is ironic about the author's statement, "How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company?"
It's ironic because she's suggesting the opposite of what some might expect – that others are missing out by not appreciating her.
The author describes herself as a "brown bag of miscellany." What type of figurative language is this, and what does it suggest about her?
Metaphor
Identify an instance where the author uses logos in her argument about slavery and its impact on her life.
Logos. She uses the historical fact of slavery being "sixty years in the past" as a logical point in her argument about moving forward.
Is this a fallacy? "Since the author doesn't feel 'tragically colored,' no Black person experiences sadness or hardship due to racism."
Yes, Non Sequitur (It doesn't follow logically that her feelings represent everyone's feelings.)
The author describes her feelings about being "colored" and an American. She then suggests a possible explanation for why some people might feel differently. What type of reasoning is this?
Abductive
Find an example of antithesis in the text.
"...praise or twice as much blame"
Find an example of alliteration in the first few paragraphs of the text.
"Southern tourists"
Explain how the author establishes her ethos throughout the essay, emphasizing her perspective and experiences.
She uses her personal narrative and experiences to establish herself as someone with a valid perspective on race, identity, and opportunity.
Is this a fallacy? The author suggests that because she has "a great chance for glory," all Black Americans have the same opportunity, and that any failure to achieve such glory is a personal failing, not a systemic issue.
Yes, Hasty Generalization/Ignoring the Complexities (She's oversimplifying the complex issue of racial equality and opportunity.)
Explain how the author uses inductive reasoning to reach her conclusion about slavery being "the price she paid for civilization."
Inductive
The author says, "I am off to a flying start and I must not halt in the stretch to look behind and weep."
Explain the literary device at play and its effect.
Zeugma