To compare the rhetorical devices used in the two passages, we can analyze the techniques employed by Frederick Douglass in "What, To a Slave, is the Fourth of July?" and Abraham Lincoln in "Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address."
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Frederick Douglass:
- Douglass employs rhetorical questions effectively in his speech to engage the audience and provoke thought about the meaning of Independence Day for enslaved individuals. His questioning leads to reflections on freedom, justice, and humanity.
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Abraham Lincoln:
- Lincoln's address uses anaphora with the repetition of certain phrases to emphasize his commitment to reconciliation and healing as he speaks of "with malice toward none" and "with charity for all." This repetition reinforces his themes of unity and mercy.
Given this analysis, the best comparison among the rhetorical devices used in the passages is:
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July employs rhetorical questions and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural uses anaphora.