Question

Throughout the poem, Bradstreet uses exaggeration, or hyperbole, in describing what she believes to be her book's flaws. Which statement best describes the purpose of this rhetorical device?

a.She wants the reader to know that she is not responsible for all the printer's errors and the poor quality of binding materials.
b.She is aware that she does not always achieve her goal as a writer and hopes readers will judge her work kindly.
c.She believes she is not a good writer but must publish anyway because she is poor and needs money.
d.She thinks her book is well written and is only pretending to dislike it in order to be sarcastic towards its critics.​

Answer 1

Anne Bradstreet uses hyperbole to express an awareness of her limitations and gently appeals for understanding from the reader, which reflects the rhetorical purpose of her exaggeration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The exaggeration, or hyperbole, that Anne Bradstreet uses in describing her book's flaws serves a specific rhetorical purpose. When considering Bradstreet's intent, it's important to acknowledge that we can never entirely know an author's intentions beyond the text itself. This concept is often referred to as the Intentional Fallacy. However, based on the words used in the poem, hyperbole can serve various functions, including appealing to the readers' emotions, creating a modest or self-deprecating persona, or challenging conventional expectations in a rhetorically effective way.

Among the options provided for the student's question, statement b seems to best describe the purpose of the rhetorical device. This statement indicates that Bradstreet is aware of her limitations as a writer and is seeking a kinder judgment of her work from the reader. This interpretation leans towards an acknowledgment of her humility and her subtle plea for her work to be met with understanding rather than harsh criticism. This rhetorical strategy also relates to the broader context in which female writers often had to navigate criticism in a male-dominated literary environment.