DOUGLASS

P R O M P T

The following passage came from the 1845 autobiography Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, an American slave. Read the passage carefully, noting such elements as syntax, figurative language, and selection of detail. Then write an essay in which you identify the stylistic elements in the third paragraph that distinguish it from the rest of the passage and show how this difference reinforces Douglass’ rhetorical purpose in the passage as a whole.

T H E S I SIn the autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, Douglass utilizes simple yet powerful syntax, pedantic diction and poetic figurative language to convey a tone of desperation and doubt to portray his conflicting desires and emotions towards slavery, specifically highlighting the third paragraph with basic sentences, rhetorical questions, imperative and interrogative voices, antithesis, metonymies, personification and allegories to emphasize a vehement yet determined tone shift with respect to his pursuit of freedom.

T O N E For paragraphs one, two and four there is a desperate and doubtful tone because Douglass is extremely morose and frustrated with his situation of slavery. His conditions and possibilities of changing his circumstance create a desperate tone. His vacillation between frustration and acceptance creates the doubtful tone.

“I was made to drink the bitterest dregs of slavery, that time was during the first six months of my stay with Mr. Covey” (lines 2-3). “I was broken in body, soul, and spirit” (lines 12-13).

T O N E

In contrast to the rest of the passage, the third paragraph is quite unique because its has the exclusive purpose of distinguishing and highlighting the tone shift towards the pursuit of happiness, therefore bringing out a vehement yet determined tone.

Douglass is very vehement towards his goals and freedoms pertaining to slavery. He wants to be free and enjoy the taste of a beautiful life.Douglass is also very determined towards his goals and freedoms and he is willing to fulfill them the first chance and opportunity he gets.

“Only think of it; one hundred miles straight north, and I am free!” (lines 49-50).“It cannot be that I shall live and die as a slave I will take to the water” (lines 51-52).

S Y N T A X

Paragraphs 1, 2, 4Sentence Structure

The structure of the sentences throughout the passage are simple and direct, having little complexity to their understanding and seeming to reflect the simplicity and directness of Douglass’s message.

Repetition:Repetition is found at the beginning of passage, in “work, work, work” (Lines6-7) to emphasize the conditions in which he finds himself, as such is the purpose of the initial paragraph.

ParallelismParallelism is also used prominently throughout the whole passage to restate ideas.

Cumulative ClausesThe use of cumulative clauses allows any simple sentence to expand further into the idea or thought of that sentence. The reason why cumulative sentences convey Douglass’s opposing desires is that his comprehensive and passionate clauses permit the audience to connect with his inner thoughts.

AntithesisThe use of antithesis is not as prominent but they seem to summarize the concept of whatever paragraph they may be in.

S Y N T A XSentence Structure

“I was broken in body, soul, and spirit” (lines 12-13).

Repetition“Work, work, work was scarcely more the order of the day than of the night” (lines 6-7).

Antithesis “The longest days were too

short for him, and the shortest nights were too long for him.” (lines 8-9)

Parallelism“Thus I used to think; and thus I used to speak to myself; goaded almost to madness at one moment, and the next reconciling myself to my wretched lot” (lines13-17).

Cumulative Clauses“My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon Mel and behold a man transformed into a brute!” (lines 13-17).

S Y N T A XParagraph 3Sentence Structure

Although the structure remains rather unchanged in the third paragraph, it seems to adopt a separate feeling. This is so that the third paragraph conveys a meaning of urgency and sudden realization, achieved through the simple sentences resembling instantaneous thoughts.

RepetitionIn the third paragraph, the most repeated word is “I” which is repeated throughout 34 times, done in emphasis of his intense personal emotions. Another important repeated term is the word “O” which is also done to emphasize his sense of desperation.

ParallelismWithin the third paragraph, the use of parallel structure is balanced with the use of repetition to enhance his feeling of desperation early into the paragraph. Cumulative Clauses

This expansion of simple sentences seems to resemble a stream of consciousness style of writing. The third paragraph is like his heart is speaking to the audience.

AntithesisBoth antithesis reflect his desperation at the nature of his slavery but also, and particularly in the second one, his vehement desire to end such misery.

S Y N T A X

Sentence Structure“I will take to the water” (line

53)“Let me be free!” (line 45)

Repetition“O God, save me!” (lines 44-45).“O why was I born a man, of whom

to make a brute”(Lines 41-42)

Parallelism“O that I were free! O, that I were on one of your gallant decks, and under our protecting wing! . . . O that I could go also! . . . “ (lines 37-41). “ I will run away. I will not stand it” (lines 46-47).

Cumulative Clauses“You are loosed from your moorings, and are free; I am fast in my chains, and am a slave! You move merrily before the gentle gale and I sadly before the bloody whip!” (lines 33-36)

Antithesis“O, why was I born a man, of whom to make a brute!” (Lines 41-42). “I had as well be killed running as die standing” (Lines 58-59).

D I C T I O N Paragraphs 1, 2, 4For the first and last part of this passage the author’s word choice is pedantic. An author would utilize this level of convoluted diction when his emotions are overwhelming and simple words do not suffice to describe the magnitude of the experience

“My thoughts would compel utterance; and there, with no audience but the Almighty, I would pour out my soul’s complaint, in my rude way, with an apostrophe to the multitude of ships: - “ (lines 29-32).

The main difference between these paragraphs and the third is that the voice is expository, setting the stage for Douglass’s feelings and introducing the audience to the first glance of his unhappiness.

“We were worked in all weathers. It was never too hot or too cold; it would it could never rain, blow, hail, or snow, too hard for us to work in the field” (lines 4-6).

D I C T I O N Paragraph 3

In contrast to the obvious elaborate diction in the other paragraphs, this part of the passage places extra emphases on personal pronouns. The long and complex word choice is replaced with “I” and “me” to accent Douglass’s emotions and perspective. This passage is his heart’s soliloquy and it places out it conflicting desires by choosing words to make it more personal.

“O that I were free! O, that I were on the one of your gallant decks and under your protecting wing!” (lines 38-39).

The voice shifts from being explanatory to interrogative and imperative. This symbolizes the transformation Douglass feels as he goes from being determined to doubtful. The interrogative voice is used to point out the self-questioning and the hesitation, while the strong, imperative voice proves that determined side of him.

F I G U R A T I V EL A N G U A G E

Paragraph 1, 2, 4The other paragraphs have little figurative language, but the little that is there sets the stage for the explosion of figurative devices in the third paragraph. The conceit here prepares the rest of the passage for the elaborate comparisons used to bring out the main purpose and tone shifts. The vessels in this quotation express the idea of being free, Douglass’ description of these vessels reveal his longing to be free himself, but, as he states later, the ships only remind him that he is unable to travel because he is a slave.

“Those beautiful vessels, robed I purest white, so delightful to the eye of freemen, were to my so many shrouded ghosts, to terrify and torment me with thoughts of my wretched condition.”

F I G U R A T I V EL A N G U A G E

Paragraph 3

In this paragraph there is a myriad of figurative language in comparison to the other paragraphs. In this quotation, a metaphor is used. Fredrick yet again speaks of his discontent through relating his slavery to being confined in bands of iron.

“You are freedom’s swift-winged angels, that fly round the world; I am confined in bands of iron!”

The personification here yet again refers to the ship that symbolizes the idea of freedom. The ship is referred to throughout the passage as a way of exhibiting his desire for liberty.“The glad ship is gone; she hides in the dim distance.”

C O N C L U S I O N Throughout this passage Douglass expresses his developing ideals and emotions about slavery and what he should do to combat it. He bounces between taking assertive actions and accepting his fate, and to convey this dilemma to his audience he effectively employs heavy diction, varied syntax and elaborate figurative language. Through these literary devices he is able to set the stage for his conditions in the first, second and fourth paragraph, and allow his inner thoughts to flow freely in the third paragraph to make the passage more emotional and personal. The distinct structure and unique stylistic elements make Douglass’s passage the cry for freedom and demand for equality that dominated the minds and hearts of the enslaved at the time.