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Rhetorical Analysis Of Abigail Adams Letter

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In 1780, Abigail Adams writes a letter to her son, John Quincy Adams, encouraging him to take advantage of all the opportunities he is given while traveling abroad with his father, who at the time was a U.S. diplomat. Adams’ conveys her motivation to her son with a patriotic and maternal tone. Through Adams’ use of diction, details, and organization, she advises her son of the importance of him applying himself while he is overseas. Abigail Adams’ use of archaic diction within her letter helps her encourage her son to stay diligent while he is traveling with his father. By frequently invoking her love and affection for him in the letter, Adams’ use of diction personifies her use of pathos. At the end of the letter, Adams makes a lasting imprint …show more content…

Adams flattered her son in the first half of the letter while in the second half she induces a sense of patriotism into her son. By acknowledging that her son “readily submitted to [her] advice” at the beginning of her letter, she reminds her son that she will always be looking out for what’s in his best interests. This reflects her maternal tone that she consistently carried through her whole letter. During this time, America was in the midst of the revolution and faced troubles to get the birth of a new nation. Adams reminds her son of what all these great men have done to fight for his freedom, and she ends her letter invoking her son with a sense of patriotism to “do honor to [his] country.” This closing statement brings a strong awareness of motivation for her son to fight for his country with all that he has. Through Abigail Adams’ use of rhetorical strategies, including pathos in her diction, vivid imagery within her details, and the wise organization of her letter, she is able to adequately advise her son to apply himself while he is travelling with his father. With Adams’ patriotic and maternal tone, she guides her son to do whats right for his life and their homeland. The goal of Adams’ letter was to imbed the importance of him taking advantage of the opportunities on his trip and his life which she accomplished because he later on became the sixth president

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Over the course of American history, society has dealt with many flaws, and dilemmas. In Source B, it illustrates that Abigail Adams, John’s wife, wanted the Continental Congress to remember the ladies when they write The Declaration of Independence. In Source C, it rationalizes how slaves didn’t have equal rights as white men, and the petition is trying to give their natural rights back. Furthermore, in Source D, a miniseries that depicted John Adams life, given particular the Revolutionary War. This source allows the viewer to visualize the conflicts that the Continental Congress had, with the colonists, and the British.

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Adams uses an abundance rhetorical devices in her letter to her son. The strong diction illustrates what challenges must be faced to become a hero. This tells John Quincy Adams that it will not be easy, but it is worth it. The analogies compare a traveler to a river and wisdom (or fruit) to experience and laziness.

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In 1780, eight years before the creation of the Constitution, Abigail Adams writes to her son John Quincy Adams, using many different rhetorical devices to advise him throughout his voyage across seas. As a mother, Adams’s concerns and prospects for the future are expressed to her son, who is growing old enough to begin to apply his own intelligence to the world. Mothers have always shared a similarity that is rooted in their compassion and tendencies to protect their children, and Adams is no different. Adams encourages her son through a series of rhetorical techniques. First, she displays her absolute love for him, using the phrase “my dear son” throughout the letter to continually show him that she is not scolding him; rather, she is trying to exhibit to him how much he means to her.

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Abigail Adams is writing a letter to her son, John Quincy Adams. In this letter Adams is informing her son that he should use his wisdom and knowledge to help him throughout his trip abroad he is taking with his father, John Adams. Also known as the second president of the United States. Adams uses comparisons and pathos to encourage and advise her son while he is traveling abroad with his father. Adams establishes authority by using pathos throughout her letter.

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To start off, Abigail Adams appeals to her son’s emotions by starting off the letter with “my dear son.” By using this introduction, it informs her son that she is being sincere and affectionate towards him. She, also, uses the power of ethos by flattering him with the talents and triumphs he is set with. This is exhibited in the third paragraph when she insists that he is bestowed with “superior advantages.” This flattery persuades and encourages him into continuing his use of the set of advantages he has received.

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