Answer:
I'd be happy to assist you with analyzing these questions:
12. "How heavy was the midnight of woe?" suggests that the emotional burden or sorrow during difficult times was overwhelming and oppressive.
13. The writer states that many people are "so profoundly ignorant of the nature of slavery" because they lack awareness or understanding of the harsh realities and experiences faced by slaves. Their lack of knowledge contributes to their ignorance about the true nature of slavery.
14. **Impunity** means exemption from punishment or consequences for wrongdoing.
15. The rhetorical appeal used in the quote "Is it possible for the human mind to conceive of a more horrible state of society?" is **rhetorical question**, which prompts the reader to consider the idea presented and engage with the text.
16. The rhetorical appeal used in the quote "The testimony of Mr. Douglass, on this point, is sustained by a cloud of witnesses, whose veracity is unimpeachable." is **ethos**, as it establishes credibility by referencing reliable witnesses.
17. "A slaveholder's profession of Christianity is a palpable imposture" means that when a person who owns slaves claims to be a Christian, it is a blatant and obvious deception or falsehood. Their actions contradict the principles of Christianity.
18. At the end of the Preface, the writer proposes a **call to action** by encouraging readers to engage with the book and consider the impact of slavery on individuals and society.
19. Wendell Phillips asserts that Douglass' recollections are "peculiarly valuable" and his insight "remarkable" because Douglass personally experienced slavery and can provide a firsthand account of its horrors. His perspective is unique and informative.
20. Wendell Phillips means that just as the founders of the nation held their hypocrisy ("the halter about their necks") while signing the Declaration of Independence, Douglass presents his Narrative as an expose of the contradictions between American ideals and the reality of slavery.
**Bonus**: In Douglass' time, the **Mason-Dixon line** was a symbolic divider between the free Northern states and the slaveholding Southern states. It marked the boundary between regions with differing attitudes and laws regarding slavery.