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Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Answer the question that follows.

Several months ago the affiliate here in Birmingham asked us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct-action program if such were deemed necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise.

Here, King refers to an hour but means time as a whole. Which rhetorical device is he using?

Allusion
Antithesis
Rhetorical question
Synecdoche

User Ishegg
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2 Answers

4 votes

Answer:

Synecdoche

Step-by-step explanation:

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User Keiw
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Answer:

In the given excerpt, Dr. Martin Luther King is using the rhetorical device of synecdoche.

Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part is used to represent the whole or the whole is used to represent a part. In this case, when Dr. King refers to "the hour," he is using it symbolically to represent "time as a whole." He is not literally referring to just one specific hour, but rather to the entire period of time when they were prepared to engage in a nonviolent direct-action program.

By using synecdoche, Dr. King effectively conveys the commitment and readiness of the individuals involved in the civil rights movement to devote their time and effort whenever necessary. It adds a deeper meaning and emphasis to their dedication and willingness to take action in the fight for justice and equality.

Therefore, the correct answer is D. Synecdoche.

Step-by-step explanation:

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User Jason Wiener
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