Question

How can a man be satisfied to entertain an opinion merely, and enjoy it? Is there any enjoyment in it, if his opinion is that he is aggrieved? If you are cheated out of a single dollar by your neighbor, you do not rest satisfied with knowing that you are cheated, or with saying that you are cheated, or even with petitioning him to pay you your due.

Which statement best describes Thoreau's rhetorical style?

A. Thoreau uses parallelism to give an extended, illustrative example about abuses of power.
B. Thoreau uses parallelism to reiterate his beliefs about governmental problems.
C. Thoreau uses rhetorical questions to force readers to question their beliefs about government.
D. Thoreau uses rhetorical questions to anticipate readers' own questions about government

Answer 1

It C, "Thoreau uses rhetorical questions to force readers to question their beliefs about government. " i just got it right on a quiz

Answer 2

C). Thoreau uses rhetorical questions to force readers to question their beliefs about government.

Step-by-step explanation:

Henry David Thoreau is known for his strong ideals against the slavery and Mexican-American War which he presented in his 1849 essay 'Resistance to Civil Government'. He argues against the individual allowing the government to repeal their morals and consciences. He suggests that the government should not be allowed to shrivel their(individuals) consciences or do injustice to them.

In this excerpt, he employs rhetorical questions like ('How can a man be satisfied to entertain an opinion merely, and enjoy it?', 'if his opinion is that he is aggrieved?') to emphasize his point and force the readers to questions their established beliefs about the government and reconsider them. Thus, option C is the correct answer.