Question

Read the excerpt from Walden by Henry David Thoreau.

At a certain season of our life we are accustomed to consider every spot as the possible site of a house. I have thus surveyed the country on every side within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms in succession, for all were to be bought, and I knew their price. I walked over each farmer’s premises, tasted his wild apples, discoursed on husbandry with him, took his farm at his price, at any price, mortgaging it to him in my mind; even put a higher price on it,—took everything but a deed of it,—took his word for his deed, for I dearly love to talk,—cultivated it, and him too to some extent, I trust, and withdrew when I had enjoyed it long enough, leaving him to carry it on. This experience entitled me to be regarded as a sort of real-estate broker by my friends.

How does the author’s use of asyndeton support his appeal?

It creates ethos by emphasizing how well he knows the farms and sites for homes in his area.
It creates pathos by suggesting that he feels strongly about what type of place is best for a home.
It creates logos by explaining the process he underwent when choosing a place to live.
It creates pathos by describing how he came to live in his current location in the woods

Answer 1

It creates ethos by emphasizing how well he knows the farms and sites for homes in his area.

The clipped series of actions ("I walked..., tasted..., discoursed..., took..., mortgaging..., took everything...") speeds the rhythm and piles up concrete experiences, showing thorough, repeated practice and thereby building the author's credibility and authority on the subject.