March 25, 2013
Period: 11th
Audience: George Washington
How do you know? It was given in the background information.
Purpose: To remind Washington what he went through and that slavery as it is, is not right.
How do you know?
In the letter Benjamin Banneker used several devices that helped get across the point, that slavery is wrong. Devices such as pathos, logos, quote from the constitution, quotes from the Bible, recollection, and aggressive diction. In his first paragraph he used recollection to bring Washington back to a time when he felt the oppression and the dangers of the British Crown and how it’s just the same as know. Then he goes into telling him how he, George Washington, used to stand up and fight the oppression, but now is one of the oppressors.
RECOLLECTION: “You clearly saw into the injustice of a state of slavery.” “Sir, (allow) me to recall to your mind that time in which the arms and tyranny of the British Crown were exerted with every powerful effort in order to reduce you to a state of servitude.”
AGGRESSIVE DITCION: “Apprehension of the horrors of its condition.” “That you should at the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act which you professedly detested in others with respect to yourselves.” “Otherwise than by recommending to you and all others to wean yourselves from those narrow prejudice which you have…”
QUOTES FROM CONSTITUTION: “We hold these things to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and