Douglass’s use of the verbs "torment" and "sting" suggests that he was under constant attack and endured mental suffering. These words convey a strong sense of pain and anguish, emphasizing the emotional and psychological burden he felt due to his awareness of his condition after learning to read.
As I read and contemplated the subject, behold! that very discontentment which Master Hugh had predicted would follow my learning to read had already come, to torment and sting my soul to unutterable anguish. As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the blessing.
What effect does Douglass’s use of the verbs torment and sting have on the reader?
They suggest Douglass forgot his problems.
They suggest Douglass was happy he had learned to read.
They suggest Douglass was under constant attack and endured mental suffering.
They suggest Douglass was able to ignore one problem by thinking about another.
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