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Narrative Of Frederick Douglass Rhetorical Analysis

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The “Narrative of Frederick Douglass” is an autobiography written by Frederick Douglass. In this excerpt, he recounts how he struggled to learn to read and write while he was a slave. While living with Master Hugh, the mistress started to teach Douglass how to read until she took on the views of her husband: it was dangerous for slaves to have access to knowledge. Douglass found teachers among the white children he would meet in the neighborhood. When he was sent on errands, Douglass would trade bread in return for lessons. At twelve years old, he found a life-changing book that depicted a conversation between a slave and his master in which the slave convinced the master to set him free. Douglass explained that the book voiced feelings that …show more content…

The main reason Douglass includes information in paragraphs 3-5 is to give us more insight on how he was able to strategically plan his way to literacy. This is important because it helps us to understand the amount of work and dedication he had to put into his life to be able to escape his mastery. I know this because in paragraph 3, he says “From this time I was most narrowly watched”. If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself,” proving that his already difficult journey had just been made even harder once the mistress became stone hearted. In paragraph 4, he says “The plan which I adopted, and the one by which I was most successful, was that of making friends with all the little white boys whom I met in the street. As many of these as I could, I converted into teachers. With their kind aid, obtained at different times and in different places, I finally succeeded in learning to read. When I was sent off errands, I always took my book with me, and by going through one part of my errand quickly, I found time to get a lesson before my

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The Slavery movement has no foundations at this time, so he has no other strategy than obeying to his mistress who suddenly turns to a fierce woman who uses her power and control to savagely suppress him. Then, the author starts analyzing logically his surrounding which leads him to understand the fact that being a slave doesn’t mean being as stupid or unintelligent as the mistress or her husband thinks. Taking advantage of the little he knows, Douglass ends up adapting a strategy that allows him to reach his goal, learning to read. By turning her back to him, the author refuses to be exploited by the enslaver and proceeds to the execution of his plan that allows him to take his freedom for good. Consciously or unconsciously the few white boy with whom the author becomes friend help him to success, as well.by his emotional and affecting tone, he played these kids with whom he becomes friends in order to reach his goal of becoming a free educated man.

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