Final answer:
A rhetorical question is used by an author to provoke thought without expecting a direct answer, often to establish tone or theme and engage the audience. The author may answer these questions through analysis or guide the audience indirectly to the intended understanding of the text.
Step-by-step explanation:
A rhetorical question is a question posed by an author to make a point rather than to solicit a direct answer. In the context provided, the author may use rhetorical questions to provoke thought, highlight specific points, or contribute to the development of the theme. For instance, Leo Davis may pose a rhetorical question to establish the tone of a painting or to incite a deeper exploration of its themes. Similarly, Johnson might use rhetorical questions to engage the audience in the concept of the Great Society actively.
The technique of rhetorical questioning can have various purposes, such as illustrating the author's stance towards a subject or guiding the audience through the argument, often revealing the author's skill in building a compelling narrative or argument. Additionally, the author may answer a rhetorical question within the text through analysis or indirectly by guiding the audience towards the intended conclusion.