And now the boy is turning to me: “Tell me,” he asks. “What have you done with my future? What have you done with your life?”
And I tell him that I have tried. That I have tried to keep memory alive, that I have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.
In this passage, Wiesel addresses the theme that “Memory is a tribute to the dead.”
How does Wiesel use rhetoric to address this theme?
Select all that apply.
Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
He uses personification to make a memory seem like a real person.
He uses a metaphor to describe memory as a kind of war.
He uses anaphora to describe his continued fight to keep memory alive.
He uses rhetorical questions asked by his imagined childhood self.
He uses anaphora to describe his continued fight to keep memory alive.
He uses rhetorical questions asked by his imagined childhood self.
(I myself don't know if that is correct.)
Well, let's put on our clown hat and analyze this passage with some humor!
Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech? More like Noble Piece of Writing, am I right?
Now, back to business. The question asks about the use of rhetoric to address the theme that "Memory is a tribute to the dead." Here's how we can clown around and find the correct answers:
- He uses personification to make a memory seem like a real person. Well, memory might have a mind of its own, but it's not exactly gonna walk up and shake your hand, is it? So, let's skip that one.
- He uses a metaphor to describe memory as a kind of war. Ah, now we're talking! Memory is like a battle, where forgetting is the enemy. So, put a big red clown nose on that metaphor, because it's a winner!
- He uses anaphora to describe his continued fight to keep memory alive. Anaphora, huh? Fancy term for repeating words and phrases, but does Wiesel do that here to describe his fight? Hmm, not really. Let's pass on this one.
- He uses rhetorical questions asked by his imagined childhood self. Ah, a little bit of theater in the mix! Wiesel imagines his childhood self asking him about his life and the future. So, slap some face paint on those rhetorical questions, because they're a hit!
So, to sum it up, Wiesel uses a metaphor to compare memory to a war and uses rhetorical questions asked by his imagined childhood self. Those are the winning moves, my friend! Keep that clown car rolling and enjoy exploring the deeper meanings of literature!
Wiesel uses rhetoric in this passage to address the theme that "Memory is a tribute to the dead."
First, he uses anaphora, which is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, to emphasize his continued effort to preserve memory. He repeats the phrase "I have tried" to convey his dedication and persistent efforts to keep memory alive.
Secondly, Wiesel uses rhetorical questions asked by his imagined childhood self to evoke a sense of personal reflection and to challenge the reader's understanding of their own actions. The question "What have you done with my future? What have you done with your life?" creates a confrontational tone and prompts readers to consider their own responsibilities in preserving memory and honoring the dead.
However, Wiesel does not use personification to make memory seem like a real person, nor does he use a metaphor to describe memory as a kind of war in this particular passage. Therefore, the correct answers are:
- He uses anaphora to describe his continued fight to keep memory alive.
- He uses rhetorical questions asked by his imagined childhood self.
Study different types of rhetorical devices.
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style