Question

Read this excerpt from Frederick Douglass's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave:

I shall never forget the ecstasy with which I received the intelligence that my old master (Anthony) had determined to let me go to Baltimore, to live with Mr. Hugh Auld, brother to my old master's son-in-law, Captain Thomas Auld.
Which of the following statements best explains how Douglass uses objectivity in this passage to convey his perspective?
a. he refers to anthony as "my old master" to establish his credibility
b. he admits his emotion about Baltimore, but does so in a measured, formal way
c. he creates pathos by describing the author's "ecstasy" about seeing hugh
d. he avoids romanticism be explaining the relationship between hugh and thomas

Answer 1

he admits his emotion about Baltimore, but does so in a measured, formal way--------APEX

Answer 2

The Correct answer is B. He admits that he has a strong emotion about Baltimore when he says “I shall never forget the ecstasy with which I received….” But he remains formal when he explains the relationship between the others characters and introduces Anthony as his "old master".

Through all his memories Frederick Douglas avoids too much sentimentalism, even when he tells the reader about his time as a slave and the hunger and cold he suffered. He prefers to use other rethoric devices such as pathos, logos and, ethos.

Letter C is incorrect because at this moment pathos is not utilized - pathos is the using of his imaginary and figurative language to provide the emotional response from the reader.

Letter A is incorrect, he mentions Anthony as his old master because of his formal way of addressing his acquaintances.

Letter D is incorrect because he shows his strong emotions yet in a formal way.