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Analysis Of AinT I A Woman Sojourner Truth

Decent Essays

Ain't I a Woman?" ,the name given to a speech, delivered extemporaneously, by Sojourner Truth, (1797–1883),she gave this speech to the Women’s Convention of 1851, she speaks on the inequalities that women and blacks faced at that time in America. she uses rhetorical strategies in order to achieve a successful and powerful delivery of her message.Sojourner uses personal experiences to get an emotional response from her audience, connecting with them as both women and mothers.Sojourner Truth uses Anaphora,Logos,Ethos and Rhetorical question in order to rebut opposing arguments for gender equality.

Anaphora,One of Truth’s strongest device, “Ain’t I a woman.” She repeats this phrase a total of four times throughout the …show more content…

Pathos refers to the authors persuasion through emotional appeal. In both of the texts, the use of pathos is very clear. However, in "Ain't I a Woman," Truth uses more prevalently. I believe that Sojourner Truth used more emotional appeal because of her audience. She was talking to a audience majorly composed of women. They would more likely understand and sympathize with her because they have experienced similar treatment. She refers to "mothers grief"and all of her hard work and the pain she has had to endure. The women in the audience are more likely to be receptive to what she is saying and be persuaded by her argument.

Through Truth’s numerous rhetorical questions used in this speech, she has made a strong impact on her audience. Each question either precedes or follows a strong truth. By questioning herself, and being able to answer each question, Truth shows her understanding of society, and the mistreatment of women. She never wanted the audience to answer her questions, because the honest answers should be obvious.All of her hardships as a slave, and she is a women. When discussing intellect, she even asks, “What’s that got to do with women’s rights or negroes rights?” Her rhetorical questions were a unique way of bringing up obvious points, and forced her listeners to fill in the answers themselves. It would have grabbed their

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