Early Part of the Nineteenth Century

During the early part of the nineteenth century Frederick Douglass was one of millions of slaves to experience the effects of slavery. In his book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Douglass emotionally challenges the despair and desperation he experienced as a slave by illustrating emotions of hopelessness and helplessness. Douglass narrates his experiences and emotions endured by integrating figurative language, syntax and the use of details in his writings. He also utilizes the use of Aristotelian appeals to spread the truth of slavery.

Douglass makes use of syntax techniques to emphasize strength, emotion, or urgency. He uses techniques such as short sentences, repeated words and repeated punctuation to convey important points to the reader. For instance the quote O that I could also go! Could I but swim! If I could fly! O, why was I born a man, of whom to make a brute! uses several aspects of syntax. In this quote Douglass utilizes exclamation points to induce a strong emotion of helplessness, a major aspect of his writings. He also uses exclamation points to illustrate urgency in his efforts to inform people of the despair and agony in slave’s lives. A second syntax device Douglass uses is short sentences. Short sentences are a method of desperation or anger, in this case used desperately to grab the attention of the reader. In addition to short sentences, and repeated exclamation marks, Douglass also uses repetition of specific words this is shown in the quote O God, save me! God, deliver me! Let me be free! Is there any God? Why am I a slave?

Douglass repeats the letter O to express despair and desperation. Conveying these emotions is important for the reader to understand what Douglass experienced and wants to end for his fellow slaves. Additionally Douglass uses the word God to grab the reader’s attention, to the reader god is a very powerful concept, and when Douglass brings it into the matter he is getting people to question slavery at that very high level.

Douglass justifies his position by stating details of his experiences and conditions while he was a slave. He states It was never too hot or cold: it could never rain, blow, hail, or snow too hard for us to work Douglass explains these details to illuminate the brutal conditions endured by the slaves. This is one main reason he wants to abolish slavery, among others. These experiences are a big source of Douglass’ despair and anguish, another advocation for his point. Douglass also explains My normal elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died he expresses these to show how a man is ruined by the brutality of slavery and how they are basically turned into miserable robots; work, work, work is all it is for them.

A final literary technique Douglass uses is figurative language. Figurative language builds upon and emphasizes the hardships of slavery by comparing it to something else. In the third paragraph Douglass writes you are loosed from your moorings, and are free; I am fast in my chins, You move merrily before the gentle gale, and I sadly before the bloody whip! he uses this juxtaposition to asset the vast differences between the slaves and freemen. Douglass also states Those beautiful vessels, robed in purest white, so delightful to the eye of the freemen, were to me so many shrouded ghosts this highlights the anguish and desperation the slaves feel, every time they see a proud, free ship all they do is feel helpless about their wretched condition.

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