Kern, Brenda 1/15/14 Period 5

Chapter 11 & Appendix

Chapter 11 1. Formal diction: Chapter 11, page 127, paragraph 1. I deeply regret the necessity that impels me to suppress anything of importance connected with my experience in slavery. It would afford me great pleasure indeed, as well as materially add to the interest of my narrative, were I at liberty to gratify a curiosity, which I know exists in the minds of many, by an accurate statement of all the facts pertaining to my most fortunate escape. Formal diction is use of more eloquent speech and often the utilization of words that are less often seen in writing, but serve to ultimately give a clearer picture of the idea that is being portrayed. Fredrick Douglass uses formal diction to describe his escape from slavery in this paragraph. Douglass use of this form of diction to enforce a serious tone in the description of the chains of slavery. This helps to undertone the oppression of being caught in the chains, but also serves to glorify the escape from such. 2. Oxymoron: Chapter 11, page 128, paragraph 1. those open declarations are a positive evil An oxymoron juxtaposes otherwise contradictory nouns in a sentence. The author uses an oxymoron in describing the escape of slaves in underground railroads during the popularization of escaping slavery by use of this method. By using positive evil Douglass quite clearly sets a description to a very complex thought, describing while underground railroads were not necessarily a correct way to find freedom, they were far from a true act of evil and he could share the thought of it being necessary. With a couple of words Fredrick Douglass manages to set a relatively complex thought for his audience. 3. I dont know what this is or if its a device: Chapter 11, pa ge 126, paragraph 126. First, were I to give a minute statement of all the facts, it is not only possible, but quite probably, that others would thereby be involved in the most embarrassing difficulties, Secondly, such a statement would most undoubtedly induce greater vigilance on the part of the slaveholders than has existed heretofore among them.

You told me to put this here, so here it is. I dont know what it is, so I dont know what it means. Douglass does utilizes it though to help structure his argument and 1. Allusion: Appendix, page 154, paragraph 1. They strain a gnat, and swallow a camel. An allusion is a direct or indirect reference to a previously existing entity or work outside of the existing topic or story. Douglass makes a direct biblical reference by quoting the bible and therefore refer to the Christians that he is much less fond of and explain their faults to a greater effect. Due to Douglass own religious lifestyle his use of a quote from the bible strengthens his argument immensely as it utilizes a strong force in referencing to a text that both parties of the argument are familiar with. 2. Periphrasis: Appendix, page 150, paragraph 1. I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. A periphrasis utilizes a word or phrase to describe what an entity or group that would otherwise have an official title. The author uses this device in describing the cruel demeanor of the slave holders that he had experienced living under and how their supposed use of Christianity contradicted what he believed to be the true way of worship. Douglass powerfully uses periphrasis to its full extent as he describes the multitude of actions that he knows are clearly sins in a biblical sense, but are nevertheless commonly known to be enacted by those of the south and directly calls them hypocrites because of it. 3. Archaic diction: Appendix, page 153, paragraph 1. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them are entering to go in. Ye devour widows houses, and for a pretense make long pretense make long prayers; therefore ye shall receive the grater damnation. Ye encompass sea and land to make proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Archaic diction is the use of old fashioned sentence structure and words that would very rarely be used in the current time period. Douglass directly quotes and references to the bible and as a result utilizes the diction of the time to create a stronger image and argument. His woes and expression of his vast knowledge of the bible solidifies his credibility in arguing against those slave holders who call themselves Christians.