What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? Speech by Frederick Douglass

CRITICAL VOCABULARY PALE ETHOS CLEAVE PATHOS LOGOS REPROACH QUICKEN LICENSE ETHOS PATHOS LOGOS EXTRINSIC ETHOS INTRINSIC ETHOS FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE WORD CHOICE DEDUCTIVE INDUCTIVE

ANALYZE AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW (Lines 1 – 8) When trying to persuade, an author or speaker often begins by establishing his or her credibility (ethos). Read lines 1 – 8. Explain how Douglass establishes his credibility to speak on his topic –the significance of the 4th of July to a slave.

ANALYZE LANGUAGE (Lines 9 – 14) Writers use rhetorical devices to make their arguments more powerful. One type of rhetorical device is the rhetorical question— a question posed to the audience that the speaker does not expect or intend for the audience to answer. Read lines 9 – 14. Identify the rhetorical questions. What purpose do the rhetorical questions serve at this po9int in the speech?

ANALYZE AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW (Lines 31 – 49) One way that speakers try to engage their listeners is by appealing to the audience’s emotions, especially sympathy. Writers sometimes use allusions, or references to other texts or stories that the audience may recognize, in order to create sympathy. Identify the story that Douglass refers to in lines 31 – 49, and analyze why he alludes to that story.

ANALYZE AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW (Lines 60 – 67) When speakers try to engage their audience’s emotions, it is known as pathos. One way speakers gain an emotional response from their audience is through their choice of words. For example, Douglass uses the word hideous in line 60, which has a much more negative connotation than words with a similar meaning, such as ugly. Look at lines 60 – 67. Find other examples of words with strong connotations. Discuss the emotional response these words are meant to evoke in listeners.

ANALYZE AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW (L ines 72 – 81) Speakers try to persuade their audience in different ways. Along with relying on their own credibility (ethos) and emotional appeals (pathos), speakers also rely on logic. This is known as logos Read lines 72 – 81. Paraphrase Douglass’s reasoning and explain his point. Look for more evidence of Douglass’s reasoning as you read.

ANALYZE AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW (Lines 87 – 122) Speakers use logic to convince an audience to agree with their position. Deductive Reasoning is a form of logic through which one establishes a general principle and then moves to specifics. Analyze Douglass’s argument in lines 87 – 96. Analyze the general principle that Douglass is setting forth. How does that general principle apply to the specific facts Douglass names.

ANALYZE AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW (Lines 123 – 130) Writers and speakers often use language with strong connotations to appeal to the audience’s emotions. Cite text evidence that Douglass is making an emotional appeal in lines 123 – 130.

ANALYZE LANGUAGE (Lines 139 – 141) When making appeals to the audience’s emotions, speakers often use figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, to make their points. Re-read lines 139 – 141. Identify a metaphor within the lines. What two things are being compared in the metaphor? Explain the effect of this metaphor.

ANALYZE LANGUAGE (Lines 150 – 153) In addition to rhetorical questions, Douglass also uses a rhetorical device called antithesis. Antithesis p[resents contrasting iodeas in parallel structures. For instance, in line 151, Douglass uses antithesis to compare the July 4th celebration to sham. Identify the example of antithesis and a metaphor within the lines 150 – 153.

ANALYZE AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW (Lines 161 – 166) Speakers may appeal to listeners in three distinct ways: 1) through the speaker’s own credibility; 2) to the emotions of the listeners; and 3) to the logic of the listeners. Re-read lines 161 – 166. Analyze these lines and use text evidence to determine which kind of appeal Douglass is primarily using.