ipl-logo

Rhetorical Analysis Of Patriotism By Mark Twain

513 Words3 Pages

In this essay, published 23 years after it was written, Mark Twain established his position on patriotism. Twain makes it clear that the American sense of patriotism is not true patriotism due to the way it is fed to the average citizen. While conveying his opinion, Twain uses many rhetorical strategies to hold the reader’s attention while drawing them to his side. For this essay, Twains rhetorical strategies will be analyzed. Twain begins by comparing patriotism to religion. In both, one lives by a constant set of rules established by a higher force: the nation’s leader(s) in patriotism and God in religion. However, Twain also separates the ideologies of traditional patriotism and American patriotism, where politicians and the media are the rulers. Twain does this to signify that we are followers of Patriotism, just as many are of religion. We accept what we are told and practice it out of respect of our leaders. Respect is not the only reason we follow, though. Twain also discusses the role of fear in patriotism, using the closeness of a village to represent this. If someone does not follow the accepted path, then they are seen as different—a traitor in the eyes of patriotism. This could also be alluding to the elder practices of religious groups, such as the imprisonment …show more content…

Twain now discusses patriotism in a scary light—one that makes 1984’s Big Brother look like a herald of democracy. Twain enlightens the reader with the idea that patriotism is not their choice. In speaking about the common main, Twain states: “The Patriot did not know just how or when or where he got his opinions, neither did he care, so long as he was with what seemed the majority.” This is very true—would you want to be the one child in school that does not stand for the national anthem? How about being the one member of your friends that stayed home on voting day? Twain reveals how we use patriotism to fit in, but lose freedom as a

Show More
Related

Comparing Patrick Henry's Speech To The Virginia Convention

396 Words | 2 Pages

The writings of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson provide examples that address the essential question ‘What makes American literature American?”. During the Founding Fathers time period, American literature was based on logic, unifying as a nation and the Founding Fathers beliefs that the nation should be independent from England. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” he explains to the delegates why America needs a militia to protect themselves against Britain. The ending of Henry’s speech was very emotional because he compares the rich white delegates of being slaves under King Henry. Henry makes a bold statement of his feelings by saying, “I know not what others may take, but as for me give me liberty, or give me death!”(107).

Read More

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Get Happy By Walter Mosley

691 Words | 3 Pages

The article Get Happy by best-selling novelist Walter Mosley is mainly about how Mosley feels that the government needs to be more involved in our lives in order to generate a happier population. In the piece, Mosley uses many adequate examples of literary devices including rhetorical questions, similes, and anaphoras. Each of these devices adds to the theme of the article and helps to clearly develop the writer’s purpose. One literary device that Mosley frequently uses in his writing is rhetorical questions. These are questions that are asked, but are not meant to be answered.

Read More

Summary Of Frederick Douglass Using The Toulmin Model

822 Words | 4 Pages

“Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground,” stated by Frederick Douglass. Douglass tries to make “hyprocaties” understand that those who want free need to work for it if they don’t work for it they will only make fools of themselves. Frederick Douglass was an American slave who bought his own freedom in order to become a free man, and he states this type of quotes to make slaves fight for their rights. Using the Toulmin Model, readers can discern the main claim is that Americans are hypocrites when they celebrate Independence day on the grounds that they still have slaves and analyze other elements of argumentation such as many Americans still encouraging slavery.

Read More

Hypocrisy Of Slavery Rhetorical Devices

1032 Words | 5 Pages

In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, former slave Frederick Douglass gave a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, instead of praising the country, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. To convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country, he uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions.

Read More

Summary Of According To Lies My Teacher Told Me

698 Words | 3 Pages

The United States of America is considered to be one of the world’s greatest “Superpowers”. A beacon of opportunity, freedom, and morality, she and her government fights for what is right and just in the world. “Liberty and justice for all” is the universally acknowledged motto and end goal of the country, at least that is what the textbooks tell their readers. According to Lies My Teacher Told Me, by author James L. Loewen, “The federal government they picture is still the people’s servant, manageable and tractable” (Loewen 220).

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Frederick Douglass

828 Words | 4 Pages

He questions his audience of the significance of Independence Day to slaves, and he answers it in an extremely contrasting way: “your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; … your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery,” that the celebration is “a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.” Douglass dismisses the national pride, characterizing it as a mere expression of people’s ignorance. The antithesis, with “greatness” being “vanity,” “sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless,” and “shouts of liberty and equality” being “hollow mockery,” provokes shock and anger from the audience, who have just been part of it and are now degraded as “savages.” However, Douglass was not trying to be inflammatory but provocative, witnessing the pathetic enthusiasm in the anniversary, that people feel exuberant about themselves while ignoring the saddening

Read More

Rhetorical Devices In The Fourth Of July

1056 Words | 5 Pages

When most people hear the words “Fourth of July” they think about fireworks, cookouts, and sparklers. During the 1850’s, the Fourth of July served as a reminder of the many horrors and injustices in the world. On July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass-- a former American slave, abolitionist leader and adroit speaker-- spoke in Rochester, New York about the affectation of celebrating independence. In his speech, “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery”, he claims celebrating independence is unethical when slavery is widespread. To convince the reader of his claim, he uses rhetorical questions, emotional appeal, and antithesis in hopes of shedding light and sparking action on the wrongful situation.

Read More

Literary Devices Used In 'Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death' By Patrick Henry's Speech

1044 Words | 5 Pages

On March 23, 1775, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” was heard all throughout St. John 's Church. These famous words were not only from a great speaker looking to have his voice heard, but the words truly had an everlasting impact on freedom’s history. In the speech, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” by Patrick Henry, he used figurative languages such as allusions, parallelism, and biblical references to bring his speech to life. These examples are just a few ways that Henry used literary devices, to create emotion and realism. In this specific piece of literature, qualities like patriotism and individualism are exceedingly prominent, this all being due to Henry’s use of literary devices.

Read More

Examples Of Corruption In Huckleberry Finn

2101 Words | 9 Pages

Running away as a child can be seen as a way to escape. A child can escape their parents, their responsibilities, and society as a whole. It is a way to get away from everything in one’s life and live naturally. This is very similar to how Huckleberry Finn decides to live his life in the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. In this story, set in the south before the Civil War South, Huck decides to abandon his life at home and live life on a raft, floating down the Mississippi river with a runaway slave Jim.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Hypocrisy Of American Slavery

1025 Words | 5 Pages

In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was called upon to deliver a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. He uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions to convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country.

Read More

Saving Private Ryan Cultural Analysis

870 Words | 4 Pages

Migrations from different countries led The United States of America to become a melting pot, a pot which contains a variety of people and their cultures all around the globe. Therefore, their cultural development process in terms of art and politics affected the world and us itself. Throughout the history of The United States of American, there were many movies, singers and political events that represented their culture to the world. But in this very paper, in terms of representing the U.S. with its culture, I will point out the significances of the movie Saving Private Ryan, the singer Louis Daniel Armstrong, and political event The Emancipation Proclamation. American patriotism is Americans cultural attachment to the United States as their homeland.

Read More

Summary Of Give Me Liberty By Eric Foner

1494 Words | 6 Pages

From the Revolution to our contemporary world, freedom has been America's mightiest force for cultural development and motivated numerous powerful events. Eric Foner views freedom not as a record of facts but as a possession which has been debated greatly for its elasticity throughout American history. Foner’s text “Give Me Liberty” depicts freedom to have been constructed not only in politics and authorized environments but also by depicting struggle to achieve the rights of African Americans, women, the working class and immigrants. Injustice and freedom can only be comprehended retroactively, when looking back at the past, and is difficult to understand it while you’re in that era. It all comes down to the fundamental history of America

Read More

Huckleberry Finn Transcendentalism Analysis

923 Words | 4 Pages

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain highlights the racist and white supremacist beliefs in the South during the 1800s. The story is told through the eyes of an adolescent boy, Huckleberry, who embarks on an adventure with Jim, a runaway slave. During their adventure, Huck undergoes internal conflict when his own personal morals don 't match those of the society in which he lives. The characters he meets are all product of their society. Tom Sawyer, who thrives for adventure, reoccurs in the beginning and at the end of the book; he illustrates civilized society and Twain uses him to satirize the Romantics. Although Emmeline Grangerford is only mentioned once, she represents Romantic literature’s emphasis on strong emotions.

Read More

Mark Twain's Corn Pone Opinions

1276 Words | 6 Pages

1. Twain’s main purpose in “Corn-Pone Opinions” is to explain how human nature determines what is favored in the society. In paragraph 9, Twain states, “It is our nature to conform; it is a force which not many can successfully resist” (718). Since the birth, each individual are instilled with this conformity that cannot be ignored. Twain wants his readers to realize that the reason behind conformity is to obtain other people’s approval, even if the individual pretends to be someone else.

Read More

Satire And Irony In Mark Twain's A Presidential Candidate

768 Words | 4 Pages

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Twain places the reader in a situation that requires much pondering of meaning and deep, intelligent insight into the commonalities performed by leading political

Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of Patriotism By Mark Twain

Related Topics

Open Document