Final answer:
The term used to describe the 10th stanza's depiction of a cruel master's extreme reaction is 'hyperbole', highlighting the inhumanity of the slave master's behavior that was often exaggerated to emphasize the severity of the conditions under slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 10th stanza uses an extreme example of a cruel master over-reacting to a slight fault of his slave. This is a(n) hyperbole.
An explanation of the use of hyperbole in this context refers to the extreme exaggeration used by the author to highlight the egregiousness of the slave master's reaction to a minor infraction by the slave. The repeated occurrences of such cruel treatment serve to underscore the inhumane conditions that were tragically commonplace during the period of slavery. The provided text describes a system where accusations were tantamount to conclusive evidence of guilt, leading to inevitable punishment regardless of the slave's innocence. Given these instances of severe and often arbitrary punishment, the term 'hyperbole' appropriately captures the essence of this extreme behavior that the author seeks to condemn.