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What type of device does Susan B. Anthony employ in her speech when she asks, “Are women persons? ”

User Jbochi
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Answer:

Rhetorical question

Step-by-step explanation:

Susan B. Anthony was a famous women's rights advocate. In the 1870s, she gave a speech titled "Are Women Persons?"

What Are Literary Devices

Literary devices are different elements that an author can use, usually to persuade an audience or provide a more detailed description. In this case, the device was used to persuade people. Although it does not apply in this situation, most literary devices are figurative and do not follow their literal meaning.

Popular literary devices include-

  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Allegory
  • Imagery
  • Repetition
  • Symbolism

What is a Rhetorical Question

As stated above, Anthony used a rhetorical question. Rhetorical questions are questions posed by a person that do not actually require an answer. In this speech, Anthony does not expect the audience to physically answer her, so it is rhetorical.

For example, a commonly used rhetorical question might be "What's not to like?" If someone asks this, they do not expect anyone to give a real answer.

On the other hand, a question like, "What did you get for number 6?" is a real question. It was asked with the expectation of a response.

Why Use Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions create a dramatic effect. This allows the audience to pause and think about the question, without having to answer it. Anthony asked this in order to make people think about her argument for women's rights. She pointed this question out to prove to people that if women are people, (which was largely agreed upon) then they should have rights.

User Orcaman
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