Rhetorical techniques in “ What to the Slaves is fourth of July?” and “ The Negro Speaks of Rivers.”
According to Fredrick Douglas speech on what to the slaves is the fourth of July , speaks passionately that this date is a mockery to the slaves and the freed African American. Douglas employs the use of rhetorical questions to portray his emotions on slavery. The use of rhetorical technique aids Douglas in effectively arguing his points out. Douglas incorporates sarcasm which accompanies a series of rhetorical questions. The Negro Speaks of Rivers is a poem by Langston Hughes that shares similar themes as the speech of Douglas. The writer represents a series of individual spirit wisdom and history of the African and the African American.
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Hughes uses the rivers as an extended metaphor to describe the soul of the black community to the ancient and wise rivers of the earth. Rivers are also used as metaphors to describe the blood that flows within the body streams. The poem becomes cyclical and musical through repletion of lines ( Hughes, 2009) . Euphrates Rivers has been used symbolically to illustrate the cradle for civilization, and the Congo River basins create a sense of allusion which becomes personified by the writer.
Douglas, on the other hand, employs rhetorical questions to convey the message that abolishment of slavery lacks and implementation of freedom to the African American. The theme of slavery is portrayed in this speech. An allusion in the quest for freedom of the African Americans is developed by Douglas suggesting that he cannot experience joy when his people cradle for liberty and are in pain ( Douglass, 1852) . Douglas rhetorically appeals that the Fourth of July holiday is a day to celebrate freedom and liberty that does not exist within the black fraternity.
In summary, both Douglas and Hughes use the theme of slavery for the African American and cradle for freedom for the entire citizens of America. They both use rhetorical elements such as metaphors and allusion to strain on the matters of civilization. These rhetorical techniques control the tonal variation in both pieces but convey the designated message effectively to their audience.
References
Douglass, F. (1852). What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?. Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society, Rochester, New York , 5 .
Hughes, L. (2009). The Negro speaks of rivers . Disney Jump at the Sun Books.
