Final answer:
Thomas Paine used questions to emotionally engage readers, urging them to reflect on and respond to the costs of independence. His writings targeted various topics like individual rights and the necessity of revolution, considering Tories a hinderance to American liberty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Paine used impassioned questions to intensify his challenges in his writings. By asking poignant questions such as "Are you only deceiving yourselves?" or "Have you lost a parent or a child by their hands?", Paine engages the reader's emotions and conscience. The technique of employing questions within rhetorical discourse is known as hypophora, where the speaker asks a question and immediately answers it, designed to engage the audience. Paine's questions force readers to reflect deeply on the loss and sacrifice related to the subject matter, stirring a sense of urgency and emotional response.
Paine's purpose in writing his pamphlets was to inspire action and solidify support for the cause of American independence. He addressed certain topics such as the natural rights of individuals, the illegitimacy of the British government over the colonies, and the necessity for revolution. His reference to Tories (Loyalists) as a problem were grounded in the belief that their allegiance to the British Crown undermined the unification and determination necessary for the colonies to secure independence. Paine viewed Tories as obstructions to liberty and self-governance, which were essential ideals at the founding of the United States. These impassioned questions and direct accusations generated a sense of pathos, urging readers to reflect on their values and take a stand.