Question

How is parallelism used here to strengthen the argument in the excerpt about the king's actions from the declaration of independence?

1) The repetition of 'for' followed by negative verbs emphasizes that there is a long list of bad things the king did.
2) The capitalization of words that begin with 't' makes the text structure more appealing to the eye.
3) The use of three lines instead of four adds to a feeling of unease.
4) The use of colons at the end of each line leads the reader to the conclusion in the last line.

Answer 1

Parallelism in the Declaration of Independence emphasizes grievances against the king using anaphora and repetitive structure, strengthening the argument for American independence by highlighting the tyrannical abuse of power.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Declaration of Independence, parallelism is used as a rhetorical device to strengthen the argument against the king's actions by highlighting a series of grievances with a repetitive structure. The repetition of the conjunction 'for' at the beginning of statements creates a rhythm that emphasizes the long list of injustices perpetrated by the king.

This structuring not only makes the argument against the king more forceful but also more memorable to the reader. Furthermore, anaphora—the repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses—is a common form of parallelism that adds to the persuasion of the argument by reinforcing the weight of each grievance.

The use of repeated phrases beginning with 'for' serves to build momentum, creating an accumulative effect of the king’s wrongdoings.

This literary technique is powerful in condemning the king's abuse of power and in justifying the American colonists' right to rebel and establish a new, more equitable government as outlined in the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson's articulation of the tyrannical power exhibited by King George III is made stronger by the repetitive and parallel structure of the accusations.