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Frederick Douglass Use Of Similes And Metaphors

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In the passage, Frederick Douglass speaks about the particulars of his state of mind as an escaped slave, a fugitive, in 1830’s New York. Throughout the passage, Douglass comprehensively uses similes and metaphors, as well as tone shifts, and repetition, to fully impart unto the reader his not only elation at being free but also his fears, exhaustion and his anxiety towards trusting people. This garners both empathy and understanding from his audience. Douglass opens the passage by describing parts of his escape to New York, comparing his elation to that of a “mariner . . . when he is rescued by a friendly man-of-war”. He also stated that he felt that he had “escaped a den of hungry lions”. This use of a mix of similes and metaphors

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