Reading Journal #5 Adrian A. Tristán Compare and contrast the themes and literary elements in Frederick Douglass’s “Learning to Read and Write” with Harriet Jacobs’ selections from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. To what extent do the literary elements perform or otherwise relate to the themes in each? Poem 1: Frederick Douglass’s “Learning to Read and Write” is a story of persistence and resilience. The essay outlines Douglass’s path to becoming literate, highlighting various challenges and difficulties he encountered as a young man. Similarly, Harriet Jacobs’ “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Seen Years Concealed” follows the early childhood of a young girl born into slavery. The first few chapters lay out the foundation of the book, particularly highlighting stories of her parents, first mistress, and the new family whom she later served. When reading these wonderful …show more content…
For example, when talking about a plethora of lessons he’s learned in his lifetime, Whitman asks “Has any one supposed it is lucky to be born?” and “Do you guess I have some intricate purpose?” as a way to directly connect with his audience. This analytical strategy allows us, his audience, to form a connection with him by thinking critically about every idea he lays upon us. As such, this forces readers to engage with the author’s questions and continue being intrigued with his messaging and underlining points. Additionally- like Dickinson, Whitman uses vivid imagery, such as “The play of shine and shade on the trees as the supple boughs wag,” to paint various pictures—whether it be the background of a scene or a feeling his encountering—in a clear, compelling, and creative way. The author’s use of detailed verbiage and robust wording acts to make the reader imagine his thoughts artistically and