Literary Analysis Of 'The Little Black Boy'

The allegory of the cave contains a very poignant message about learning and new experiences but it’s not real. It’s written as Socrates telling a story in order to illustrate his point. The first man is forcibly removed from the cave and shown the light, creating a painful experience. Douglass’ story is autobiographical and it shows a true need for knowledge in order to be free from the bondage of slavery.

Throughout his narrative, Douglass’s descriptions of the white slaveholders expose the Christian hypocrisy found in the American slave system. Douglass first does so by exposing how the lesson taught by Christians to help those in need is contradicted by the experiences Douglass has especially with hunger. Douglass reflects on these experiences when he states that for the “first time during a space of more than seven years” feeling the effects of the “painful gnawing’s of hunger…” (54). This event shows the Christians’ lessons of selflessness and kindness is hypocritical as they treat their fellow humans as subhuman. The Christians at the time rely on scripture to make a case for slavery in America.

Similes in the poem such as ‘till he was like to drop’ are used to create a more descriptive image in the reader’s mind. Metaphors when saying ‘He lifted up his hairy paw’ and in many other sections of the poem to exaggerate areas to give the reader a more interesting view. So the poet can express what he is trying to prove through and entertaining way. The imagery device enhances the poem to make it stand out more so it grabs the reader attention. The poem was a very entertaining and humorous.

Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, wrote to Thomas Jefferson in 1791 to argue against slavery and that the freedom and tranquility we enjoy is a blessing from heaven. The author uses quotes, diction and rhetorical questions to develop and support his claims. Banneker’s purpose is to get Thomas Jefferson to consider the morals of slavery. The intended audience is Thomas Jefferson and any other government official who reads this letter. To begin, Banneker uses an intricate choice of words to express how unhappy he is with slavery and those who allow it.

Douglass also used verbal irony to denounce the contradictory and abusive behavior of his masters, which emotionally appealed to anger and ethically to shame; he achieved the same thing through situational irony which logically appealed to an audience well acclimated to sympathizing with a black man. Douglass’ use of irony appeals on multiple levels as he continues to protest slavery and move towards advanced devices, the latter of which will conclude when he recounts

“ They might appreciate Nat for the complex, paradoxical figure he was, a man capable of love and hatred, doubt and thundering visions, sensitivity and messianic rage,” said Oates. He also tried to convey how the insurrection affected the

He points out the idiocy of slavery since they must do what other men do, but have to actually prove that they are men. He explains the hypocrisy of the people by giving them the perspective of a slave. Fourth of July is just another day to a slave that reminds him even more of his injustice. Prayers, religious celebrations, sermons and hymns are just

Frederick Douglass must have been aware of this because in his narrative, he actively opposes the idea. He describes the masters as people who would “much rather see [the slaves] as engaged in degrading sports, than to see [them] behaving as intellectual, moral, and accountable beings”(48). At a very young age, Douglass learned from the kindly Mrs. Auld how to read, and eventually how to write. He later began a school on the day of the Sabbath for other slaves who desired this knowledge. In Douglass narrative, he proves that unlike the slave owner’s perceptions, African Americans could be “scholars” that “ardently [desired] to learn”(48).

Paul is a troubled boy who finds solace in escaping from the real world. When Paul is in touch with reality, he is unhappy and rebellious. When Paul feels accepted and important, he is truly a bright and respectable young man. Multiple personalities of Paul are explored throughout the short story, which causes

In the mid 1800’s slavery was a very popular thing in the south and was not looked down upon. Many people thought slavery brought the community together and thought it was good. Later Frederick Douglass, a famous slave and abolitionist came out and wrote his own narrative, throwing light on the different aspects of slavery that made slaves think it was bad, such as, cruel beatings that often occurred, the lack of education being given to slaves, and lies being told to the general public. He had very different positions on slavery compared to, pro slavery men and he used his narrative and life experiences to support those positions.     Many beatings happened on the plantation, that Douglass and his fellow slaves witnessed.

Beliefs could be considered an essence of what makes people human, the belief in a higher power, or the lack thereof. Relating to Douglass declaring, “Is there any God? Why am I a slave. ”(10) Douglass alludes to the Israelites in the Old Testament, who constantly complain about God not helping them, but Douglass uses this allusion ironically, believing he won’t get help with or without complaining, because he has had past masters who claimed to be very religiously good people.

African American students gain an understanding about the meaning of their existence through symbols of American culture. This includes television, literature, and school. They are taught through the view of the white American, who does not consider the African American’s history, or culture to be significant. It’s crazy to think how much superiority can impact a group of people. Through this type of education, the inevitable question that black students will start to possess is “Am I invisible?”.

When people talk about slavery they more or less tend to label the good ones who were against slavery into the North and then the monsters as being the Southerners. Stowe showed the readers that this isn’t true, and that you can’t just point and blame that easily. Through Tom’s owners, Mr. Shelby and St. Clare, Stowe showed us the reality of kindness that some Southern slave owners possessed. Both of these slave owners believed it wrong to harm their slaves and to treat them with any type of cruelty. St. Clare tended to share his opinions on slavery, and Stowe used this character to show how many Southerners thought slavery to be an act of iniquity, but were too stubborn to try and change the ways of their society.

Frederick Douglass would most likely have a similar opinion because he recognized how contradictory the actions of the slaveholders were with faith in general. Those zealous Christians only scrambled to find something in the Bible that could ensure them that this horrific way of making money would not be frowned upon by God. They denied their conscience and had the audacity to quote the Good News as they beat their slaves almost to the point of death. The cruel actions of the slaveholders are nearly impossible to call moral, keeping in mind the overall belief that all human beings have dignity and natural

Similarly, “Comin Thro’ the Rye” is also one of the most obvious symbols in the book because it suggests that Holden is the savior of innocence in the book. Holden hears a little boy humming to the tune of the poem and it makes him feel “better…not so depressed anymore” (Salinger 129). This quote is appropriate in the symbolism of innocence because it talks about incorporating a loss of innocence even though Holden wants to be the protector of innocence for children. The meaning of the actual poem has no effect on the moral of the story, it is the way that Holden mistakes the lyrics of the “song” (Salinger 191). Instead of the actual catcher “[meeting] a body” in the “poem,” Holden thinks that “[catching] a body” in a “song” (Salinger 191), is the correct version.