The sixth and seventh sentences from paragraph 2 are: "As for intellect, all I can say is, if a woman have a pint, and a man a quart—why can't she have her little pint full? You need not be afraid to give us our rights for fear we will take too much,—for we can't take more than our pint'll hold."
The rhetoric in these sentences supports Truth's central idea by using a metaphor to argue that women should have their rights recognized and respected. The comparison between a pint and a quart suggests that women should be given the same opportunities and rights as men, without posing a threat or taking away from what men have. This supports Truth's central idea of advocating for women's rights and equality.
Read the sixth and seventh sentences from paragraph 2. How does the rhetoric in these sentences support Truth’s central idea?
A.
By firmly stating that most women are physically smaller than men, Truth argues that women should have rights specifically designed for them.
B.
By subtly referring to the fact that she has been unable to develop her intellect, Truth suggests that the power of her speech is based on emotion.
C.
By slyly suggesting that women could never be as smart as men, Truth assures men that granting women equal rights is not a threat.
D.
By directly comparing a quart to a pint, Truth is embracing the idea that there will always be fundamental differences between men and women.
Sojourner Truth (1797–1883) was an outspoken abolitionist and women's rights activist. Born a slave in 1797, Truth escaped with her infant daughter in 1826, and later successfully fought in court to gain emancipation for her son Peter as well. The following is an original transcript of her speech given at the 1851 Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, taken by journalist Marcus Robinson. It begins with his introduction.
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One of the most unique and interesting speeches of the convention was made by Sojourner Truth, an emancipated slave. It is impossible to transfer it to paper, or convey any adequate idea of the effect it produced upon the audience. Those only can appreciate it who saw her powerful form, her whole-souled, earnest gestures, and listened to her strong and truthful tones. She came forward to the platform and addressing the President said with great simplicity: "May I say a few words?" Receiving an affirmative answer, she proceeded:
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I want to say a few words about this matter. I am a woman's rights. I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that? I have heard much about the sexes being equal; I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am as strong as any man that is now. As for intellect, all I can say is, if a woman have a pint, and a man a quart—why can't she have her little pint full? You need not be afraid to give us our rights for fear we will take too much,—for we can't take more than our pint'll hold. The poor men seem to be all in confusion, and don't know what to do. Why children, if you have woman's rights, give it to her and you will feel better. You will have your own rights, and they won't be so much trouble. I can't read, but I can hear. I have heard the bible and have learned that Eve caused man to sin. Well, if woman upset the world, do give her a chance to set it right side up again. The Lady has spoken about Jesus, how he never spurned woman from him, and she was right. When Lazarus died, Mary and Martha came to him with faith and love and besought him to raise their brother. And Jesus wept and Lazarus came forth. And how came Jesus into the world? Through God who created him and woman who bore him. Man, where is your part? But the women are coming up blessed by God and a few of the men are coming up with them. But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, and he is surely between a hawk and a buzzard.
"Speech at the Women's Rights Convention, 1851" by Sojurner Truth. In the public domain.
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