Write an essay that analyzes the style and rhetorical techniques Douglass uses in one of the following passages. Explain how Douglass’ use of language (style and rhetorical techniques) is designed to achieve a certain effect or purpose. Keep this question in mind as you write: What is Douglass trying to communicate to his audience and how does his use of language aid his purpose? Additionally you must note the importance of the passage when considered in the larger context of the novel. Do not write a plot summary. Include textual evidence to support the points you make about the passage
400 WORDS MINIMUM – Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages

The passages you may choose from are:

Pages 46-48: At the beginning of chapter VI to the line, “In learning to read, I owe almost as much to the bitter opposite of my master…”

Pages 69-72: At the beginning of chapter X to the line, “…before he would get half way thither, he would tum short and crawl into a fence-corner, or behind some tree…Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages

Pages 75-81: Read from “I have already intimated that my condition was much worse, during the first six months of my stay at Mr. Covey’s, than in the last six” to “..his reputation would have been lost; so, to save his reputation, he suffered
me to go unpunished.

Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages-

Passages to read to complete the essay:

Style Analysis
Chapter VI
Style Analysis
Chapter VI
My mistress proved to be all she appeared when
heart and finest feelings. She had never had a slave
t met her at the door–a woman of the kindest marriage she had been dependent upon her own industry for a living. She was by trade a weaver; er her control previously to myself, and prior to On to her business, she had been in a good degree preserved from the blighting
dna dehumanizing effects of slavery. I was utterly astonish goodness. I scarcely knew how to Behave toward her. She was entirely unlike any other white woman I had ever seen. I could not approach her as I was accustomed to approach other white ladies. My early instruction was Of u all Crouching servility, usually so acceptable quality in a slave, did not answer when manifested toward her. Her favor was not gained by it; she seemed to be disturbed by it. She did not unmannerly for a slave to look her in the face. The meanest slave was put fully at Case in her presence, and none left without feeling better for having seen her. Her face was made of heavenly smiles, and her voice of tranquil music. But, alas! This kind heart had buta short time to remain such. The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one of harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon.

Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages
Very soon after I went to live with Mr. and Mrs. Auld, she very kindly commenced to teach me the A, B, C. After I learned this, she assisted me in learning to spell words of three or four letters. Just at this point of my progress, Mr. Auld found out what was going on, and at once forbade Mrs. Auld to instruct me further, telling her, among other things, that it was unlawful, as well as unsafe, to teach a slave to read. To use his own words, further, he said, ” If you give a n—- and inch, he will take an ell. A n– should know nothing but to obey his master-to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best n—in the world. Now,” said he, “if you teach that n– (speaking of myself) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable and of no value to his master. As to himself, it could do him no good, but a great deal of harm. It would make him discontented and unhappy.” These words sank deep into my heart, stirred up sentiments within that lay slumbering, and called into existence an entirely new train of thought. It was a new and special revelation, explaining dark and mysterious things, with which my youthful understanding has struggled in vain. I now understood what had been to me a most perplexing difficulty-to wit, the white a’s power to enslave the black man. It was a grand achievement, and I prized it highly. From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom. It was just what I wanted, and I got it at a time when I the least expected it. Whist I was saddened by the thought of losing the aid of my kind mistress, I was gladdened by the invaluable instruction which, by the merest accident, I had gained from my master. Though conscious of the difficulty of learning without a teacher, I set out with high hopes, and a fixed purpose at whatever coast of trouble. to learn how to read. The very decided manner with which he spoke and strove to impress his wife with the evil consequences of giving me instructions, served to convince me that he was deeply sensible of the truths he was uttering. It gave me the best assurance that I might rely with the utmost confidence on the results which, he said, would flow from teaching me to read. What he most dreaded, that I most desired. What he most loved, that I most hated. That which to him was a great evil, to be carefully shunned, was to me a great good, to be diligently sought; and the argument which he so warmly urged, against my learning to read, only served to inspire me with a desire and determination to learn. In learning to read, I owe almost as much to the bitter opposition of my master, as to the kindly aid of my mistress. I acknowledge the benefits of both.

Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages |Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages
Chapter x
Douglass’s stay with Mr. Covey

1. I was now Se, and went to live with Mr. Covev, on the 1st of January
   for the first time in my life, a field hand. In my new employment, I found myself even more awkward than a country boy appeared to be in a large city. I had been at my new home but one week before Mr. Covey 8ave me a very severe whipping, cutting my back, causing the blood to run, and raising ridges on my flesh as large as my little finger. The details of this affair are as follows: Mr. Covey sent me, very early in the morning of one of the coldest days in the month of January, to the woods, to get a load of wood. He gave me a team of unbroken oxen. He told me which was the in-hand ox, and which the off new end of a large rope around the horns of the in-hand ox and gave me the hand one. He then tied the Outer end of it and told me. if the oxen started to run. that I must hold on upon the rope. I had never ariven oxen before, and of course I was very awkward. 1, however, succeeded in getting to the edge of the woods with little difficulty: but I had got a very few rods into the woods, when the oxen took fright, and started full tilt, carrying the cart against the trees, and over stumps, in the most frightful manner. I expected every moment that my brains would be dashed out against the trees. After running thus for a considerable distance, they finally upset the cart, dashing it with great force against a tree, and threw themselves into a dense thicket. How I escaped death, I do not know. There I was, entirely alone in a thick wood, in a place new to me. My cart was upset and shattered, my oxen were entangled among the young trees, and there was none to help me. After a long spell of effort, I succeeded in getting my cart righted, my Oxen disentangled, and again yoked to the cart. I now proceeded with my team to the place where I had the day before, been chopping wood, and loaded my cart pretty heavily, thinking in this way to tame my oxen. I then proceeded on my way home. I had now consumed one half of the day. I got out of the woods safely, and now felt out of danger. I stopped my oxen to open the woods gate; and just as I did so, before I could get a hold of my ox-rope; the oxen again started, rushed through the gate, catching it between the wheel and the body of the cart, tearing it to pieces, and coming within a few inches of crushing me against the gate-post. Thus twice, in one short day, I escaped death by the merest chance. On my return, I told Mr. Covey what had happened, and how it happened. He ordered me to return to the woods again immediately. I did so, and he followed on after me. Just as I got into the woods, he came up and told me to stop my cart and that he would teach me how to trifle away my time, and break gates. He then went to a large gum-tree, and with his axe cut three large switches, and after trimming them up neatly with his pocket knife, he ordered me to take off my clothes. I made him no answer, but stood with my clothes on. He repeated his order. I still made him no answer, nor did move to strip myself. Upon this he rushed at me with the fierceness ofa tiger, tore off my clothes, and lashed me till he had worn out his switches, cutting me so savagely as to leave the marks visible for a long time after. This whipping was the first of a number just like it, and for similar offences. T lived with Mr. Covey one year. During the first six months of that year, scarce a week passed without his whipping me. I was seldom free from a sore back. My awkwardness was almost always his excuse for whipping me. We were worked fully up to the point of endurance. Long before day we were up, our horses fed, and by the first approach of day we were off to the field with our hoes and ploughing teams. Mr. Covey gave us enough to eat, but scares time to eat it. taking our meals. We were often in the field from first approach of day till its last lingering ray had left us; and at saving-fodder time, midnight often caught us in the field binding blades We were often less than five minutes Covey would be out with us. The way he used to stand it, was this. He would spend most of his He would then come out fresh in the evening, ready to urge us on with his words, afternoons in bed. example, and frequently with the whip. Mr. Covey was one of the few slaveholders who could and did He was a hard-working man. He knew himself by himself just what a man or boy work with his hands. could do. There was no deceiving him. His work went on in his absence almost as well as in his presence; and he had the faculty of making us feel that he was ever present with us. This he did by surprising us. He seldom approached the spot where we were at work openly, if he could do it secretly. He always aimed at taking us by surprise. Such was his cunning that we used to call him among ourselves, “the snake.” When we were at work in the cornfield, he would sometimes crawl on his hands and knees to avoid detection, and all at once he would rise nearly in our midst, and scream out, “Ha, ha!” Come, come! Dash, dash on!” This being his mode of attack, it was never safe to stop a single minute. His comings were like a thief in the night. He appeared to us as being ever at hand. He was under every tree, behind every stump, in every bush, and at every window, on the plantation. He would sometimes mount his horse, as if bound to St. Michael’s, a distance of seven miles, and in half an hour afterwards you would see him coiled up in the corner of the wood-fence, watching every motion of the slaves. He would, for this purpose, leave his horse tied up in the woods. Again, he would sometimes walk up to us, and give us orders as though he was upon the point of starting on a long journey, turn his back upon us, and make as though he was going to the house to get ready; and, before he would get half way thither, he would turn short and crawl into a fence-corner, or behind some trees, and there watching us till the going down of the sun.
   Passage #3 -Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages
   The Battle with Mr. Covey
   I have already intimated that my condition was much worse, during the first six months of my stay at Mr. Covey’s, than in the last six. The circumstances leading to the change in Mr. Covey’s course toward me form an epoch in my humble history
   You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see
   man. On one of the hottest days of the month of August, 1833, Bill Smith,
   how a slave was made William Hughes, a slave named Eli, and myself, were engaged in fanning wheat. Hughes was clearing the tanned wheat from the fan. Eli was turning, Smith was feeding, and I was carrying wheat to the fan. The wOK Was simple, requiring strength rather than intellect: yet, to one entirely unused to such work, it Lde very hard. About three o’clock of that day, I broke down; my strength failed me; I was seized with a violent aching of the head. attended with extreme dizziness; I trembled in every limb. Finding what was coming, I nerved myself up, feeling it would never do to stop work. I stood as long as I could stagger
   to the hopper with grain. When I could stand no longer, I fell, and felt as if held down by an immense weight. The fan of course stopped; everyone had his own work to do; and no one could do the work of the other, and have to go on at the same time.
   Mr. Covey was at the house, about one hundred yards from the treading-yard where we were
   He hastily fanning. On hearing the fan stop, he left immediately, and came to the spot where we were. inquired what the matter was. Bill answered that I was sick, and there was no one to bring wheat to the fan. I had by this crawled away under the side of the post and rail-fence by which the yard was enclosed, hoping to find relief by getting out of the sun. He then asked where I was. He was told by one of his hands. He came to the spot, and after looking at me awhile, asked me what the matter was. I told him as well as I could, for I scarce had strength to speak. He then gave me a savage kick in the side, and told me to get up. I tried to do so, but fell back in the attempt. He gave me another kick and again told me to rise. I again tired, and succeeded in gaining my feet; but, stooping to get the tub with which I was feeding the fan, I again staggered and fell. While down in this situation, Mr. Covey took up the hickory slat with which Hughes had been striking off the half-bushel measure, and with it gave me a heavy blow upon the head, making a large wound, and the blood ran freely; and with this again told me to get up. I
   made no effort to comply, having now made up my mind to let him do his worst. In a short time after receiving this blow, my head grew better. Mr. Covey had now left me to my fate. At this moment resolved, for the first time, to go to my master, enter a complaint, and ask his protection. In order to do this, I must that afternoon walk seven miles; and this, under the circumstances was truly a severe undertaking. I was exceedingly feeble; made so much by the kicks and blows which I received, as by the severe fit of sickness which I had been subjected. 1, however, watched my chance, while Covey was lookIng In an opposite directions, and started St. Michael’s. I succeeded in getting a considerable assistance on my way to the woods, when Covey discovered me, and called after me to come back, threatening what he would do if I did not come. I disregarded both his calls and his threats, and made my way as if to keep the road, I walked through the woods. keeping far enough from the road to avoid detection, and near enough to prevent losing my way. I had not gone far before by little strength again failed me. As fast as my feeble state would allow: and thinking I might be overhauled by him to the woods Could go no farther. I Fell down, and lay for a considerable time. The blood was yet oozing from the wound on my head. For a time, I thought I should bleed to death; and think now that I should have done so, but that the blood so matted by hair as to stop the wound. After lying there about three quarters of an hour, I nerved myself up again, and started on my way, through bogs and briers, barefooted and bareheaded, tearing my feet sometimes at nearly every step; and after a journey of about seven miles, occupying some five hours to perform it, I arrived at master’s store. I then presented an appearance enough to affect any but a heart of iron. From the crown of my head to my feet, I was covered with blood. My hair was all clotted with dust and blood; my shirt was stiff with blood. My legs and feet were torn in sundry places with briers and thorns, and were also covered with blood. I suppose I Looked like a man who had escaped a den of wild beasts, and barely escaped them. In this state I appeared before my master, humbly entreating him to interpose his authority for my protection. I told him all the circumstances as well as I could, and it seemed, as I spoke, at times to affect him. He would then walk the floor, and seek to justify Covey by saying he expected I deserved it. He asked me what I wanted. I told him, to let me get a new home; that as sure as I lived with Mr. Covey again, I should live with but to die with him; that Covey would surely kill me; he was in a fair way for it. Master Thomas ridiculed the idea that there was any danger of Mr. Covey’s killing me, and said that he knew Mr. Covey; that he was a good man, and that he could not think of taking me from him; that, should he do so, he would lose the whole year’s wages; that I belonged to Mr. Covey for one year, and thatI must go back to him, come what may; and that I must not trouble him with any more stories, or that he would get hold of me. After telling me that I might remain in St. Michael’s that night, (it being quite late,) but that I must be off back to Mr. Covey’s early in the morning; and that if I did not, he would get hold of me, which meant that he would whip me. I remained all night, and, according to his orders, I started off to Covey’s in the morning (Saturday morning,) wearied in the body and broken in spirit. I got no supper that night, or breakfast that morning. I reached Covey’s about nine o’clock; and just as I was getting over the fence that divided Mrs. Kamp’s fields from ours. outran Covey with his cow Before he could reach me, I succeeded in getting to the cornfield; and a skin, to give me another whipping afforded me the corn was very high, if waiting for something to eat; he would give himself no further in the woods, having the alternative before me,-to go home woods and be starved to death. That night somewhat acquainted. Sandy had a free wife who lived about You Saturday, he was on his way to see her. I told him my circumstances. home with him. I went home with him Course It was best for me to pursue. I found Sandy an adviser altogether unaccountable. He finally seemed very angry, and searched for me a long time. My behavior gave up the chase, thinking I suppose, that I must come home trouble in looking for me. I spent that day mostly and be whipped to death, or stay in the I fell in with Sandy Jenkins slave with whom I was from Mr. Covey’s; and it being he very kindly invited me to go and talked about this whole matter over, and got his advice as to what He told me, with great solemnity, I must back before I went, I must go with him into another part of the woods, where there was a certain root which if l would take some of it with me, carrying it always on my right side, would render it impossible for Mr. Covey. or any other white man, to whip me. He said he had carried it For years; and since he had done so. he had never received a blow, and never expected to while he carried it. I at first rejected the idea, that the simple carrying of a root in my pocket would have any such effect as he had said, and was not disposed to take it; but Sandy impressed the necessity with much earnestness, telling me it could do no harm, if it did no good. To please him, I at length took the root, and according to his direction, carried it upon my right side. This was Sunday morning. l immediately started for home; and upon entering the yard gate, out came Mr. Covey on his way to meeting. He spoke to me very kindly, bade me drive the pigs from a lot nearby, and passed on towards the church. Now, this singular conduct of Mr. Covey really made me begin to think that there was something in the root which Sand had given me; and had it been on any other than Sunday, I could have attributed the conduct to no other cause then the influence of that root; and as it was, I was half inclined to think the root to be something more than I at first had taken it to be. All went well till Monday morning. On this morning, the virtue of the root was fully tested. Long before daylight, I was called to go and rub, curry, and feed the horses. I obeyed, and was glad to obey. But whilst thus engaged, whilst in the act of throwing down some blades from the loft, Mr. Covey entered the stable with a long rope; and just as I was half out of the loft, he caught hold of my legs, and was about tying me. As soon as I found what he was up to, I gave a sudden spring, and asI did so, he holding to my legs, I was brought sprawling on the stable floor. Mr. Covey seemed now to think he had me, and could do what he pleased; but at this moment-from whence came the spirit I don’t know—I resolved to fight; and, suiting my action to the resolution, I seized Covey hard by the throat: and as I did so. I rose. He held on to me, and I to him. My resistance was so entirely unexpected that Covey seemed taken all aback. He trembled like a leaf. This gave me assurance, and I held him uneasy, causing the blood to run where I touched him with the ends of my fingers. Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages-  Mr. Covey soon called out to Hughes for help. Hughes came, and, while Covey held me, attempted to tie my right hand. While he was in the act of doing so, I watched my chance, and gave him a heavy kick close under the ribs. This kick fairly sickened Hughes. so that he left me in the hands of Mr. Covey. This kick had the effect of not only weakening Hughes but Covey also. When he saw Hughes bending over with pain, his courage coiled. He asked me if I meant to persist in my resistance. I told him I did, come what might; that he had used me like a brute for six months, and that I was determined to be used so no longer. With that, he strove to drag me to a stick that was lying just out of the stable door. He meant to knock me down. But just as he was leaning over to get the stick, I seized him with both hands by his collar, and brought him by a sudden snatch to the ground. By this time, Bill came. Covey called upon him for assistance. Bill wanted to know what he could do. Covey said, “Take hold of him, take hold of him!” Bill said his master hired him out to work, and not to help to whip me; so he left Covey and myself to fight our own battle out. We were at it for nearly two hours. Covey at length let me go, puffing and blowing at a great rate, saying that if I had not resisted, he would not have whipped me half so much. The truth was, that he had not whipped me at all. I considered him as getting entirely the worst end of the bargain; for he had drawn no blood from me, but I had from him. The whole six months afterwards, that I spent with Mr. Covey, he never laid the weight of his finger upon me in anger. He would occasionally say, he didn’t want to get a hold of me again. “No,” thought 1, “you need not; for you will come off worse than you did before.” This battle with Mr. Covey was the turning -point in my career as a slave. It rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom and revived within me a sense of my own manhood. It recalled the departed self-confidence, and inspired me again with a determination to be free. The gratification afforded by the triumph was a full compensation for whatever else might follow, even death itself. He only can understand the deep satisfaction which Il experienced, who has himself repelled by force the bloody arm of slavery. I felt as I never felt before. It was a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of freedom. My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took its place; and I now resolved that, however long I might remain a slave in form, the day had passed forever when i could be a slave in fact. I did not hesitate to let it be known of me, that the white man who expected to succeed in whipping, must also succeed in killing me. From This time years afterward. Thad several fights, but was never whipped.what might be called fairly whipped. though I remained a slave four It was for a long time a matter of surprise to me why Mr. Covey alaby the constable to the whipping-post, and there regularly whipped against a white man in defense of myself. And the only explanation satisfy me; but such as it is, I will give it. Mr. Covey enjoyed the time the crime for raising my hand I can now think of does not entirely Tesro-breaker. It was of considerable importance to him. That reputation was at stake; and had he sent me-a boy about sixteen years old-to tune nave been lost; so, to save his reputation. he suffered me to go unpunished. Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages. Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages. Style and rhetorical techniques used in passages.

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