Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself Style

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself Style

The lasting political, emotional, and dramatic power of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass stems not only from the highly controversial subject matter of slavery but also from Douglass' ability to utilize a number of literary and rhetorical devicesthat enable him to create a compelling and complex testimony to the horrific nature of slavery. One of Douglass' notable literary devices is his ability to render an engaging narrative plot in highly descriptive language. The descriptions include particular incidents, people, and moments in his life as a slave. His descriptions lend a particular credibility to his story by fostering graphic images and scenes that are difficult to forget. Once read, who can forget the image that Douglass invokes of the whipping of his Aunt Hester at the end of first chapter? In fact, as scholar Jeffrey Steele argues in his article ' 'Douglass and Sentimental Rhetoric," Douglass assumed that...
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