In the 1839 novel, “Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas”, Frederick Douglas conveys how he felt once he was manumitted. His tone of excitement slowly changes to a tone of distraught and worry. Douglas takes the reader through his mind and thoughts through the use of metaphors, exquisite diction, and the use of great syntax. Douglas is attempting to describe the fondness of being set free to the white people who can help abolish this unjust act. Douglas expresses how his state of mind was initially excitement. “...a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” Douglas brings this emotion to the attention of the reader through the use of several metaphors to help build a relationship with these white people. “I felt like one who had escaped a den of hungry lions.”
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“This in itself was enough to damp the ardor of my enthusiasm.” This line really breaks out the loneliness and fear. Douglas’ enthusiasm has been depleted once he realizes that he could one day be thrown back into slavery. Douglas helps the reader feel like they too have seized upon like a “hideous crocodile seizes upon his prey.” Douglas uses a repeated dash at the end of the passage indicating that the hardships will never end for him. The dashes show an ongoing hardship that feeds his fear and worry so that they will grow into emotions that cannot be tamed. “without home or friends – without money or credit - wanting shelter and no one to give it - wanting bread, and no money to buy it…” Douglas aids the reader in understanding the emotional train wreck that can take place even if the reader has never been an escaped slave. He conveys his state of mind through the introduction and creation of prominent metaphors and syntax. He harnesses the power of these rhetorical devices to help people understand what it felt like to be free and then realize that the burdens have only
“This in itself was enough to damp the ardor of my enthusiasm.” This line really breaks out the loneliness and fear. Douglas’ enthusiasm has been depleted once he realizes that he could one day be thrown back into slavery. Douglas helps the reader feel like they too have seized upon like a “hideous crocodile seizes upon his prey.” Douglas uses a repeated dash at the end of the passage indicating that the hardships will never end for him. The dashes show an ongoing hardship that feeds his fear and worry so that they will grow into emotions that cannot be tamed. “without home or friends – without money or credit - wanting shelter and no one to give it - wanting bread, and no money to buy it…” Douglas aids the reader in understanding the emotional train wreck that can take place even if the reader has never been an escaped slave. He conveys his state of mind through the introduction and creation of prominent metaphors and syntax. He harnesses the power of these rhetorical devices to help people understand what it felt like to be free and then realize that the burdens have only