Rhetorical Analysis:
Chapter 1:
Imagery-
The author utilize imagery through this chapter to make the reader see what the main character is perceiving in his society. This later on become effective tool because the author connects with his audience and creates empathy towards him as well as the situation in which he is living. The imagery of watching and feeling of the environment in the first chapter when he is describing the battle royal in general. The author include the five senses. We were rushed up to the front of the ballroom, where it smelled even more strongly of tobacco and whiskey”. This helps the audience identify the place, the mood of the moment, and also how vulnerable the group students including the narrator towards are towards the new experience hey are presenting. By doing this the author give the audience the opportunity to use their own feelings in order to understand the purpose of this novel. Also the author contrast the detailed images for the reader to realize the absence of the main character.
The author utilize imagery through this chapter to make the reader see what the main character is perceiving in his society. This later on become effective tool because the author connects with his audience and creates empathy towards him as well as the situation in which he is living. The imagery of watching and feeling of the environment in the first chapter when he is describing the battle royal in general. The author include the five senses. We were rushed up to the front of the ballroom, where it smelled even more strongly of tobacco and whiskey”. This helps the audience identify the place, the mood of the moment, and also how vulnerable the group students including the narrator towards are towards the new experience hey are presenting. By doing this the author give the audience the opportunity to use their own feelings in order to understand the purpose of this novel. Also the author contrast the detailed images for the reader to realize the absence of the main character.
Antithesis-
The author use an antithesis that mark the development of the novel and gives the struggle to the main character through the novel. This antithesis is the behavior of the grandfather “When I was praised for my conduct I felt a guilt that in some way I was doing something that was really against the wishes of the
White folks, that if they had understood they would have desired me to act just the opposite, […] It made me afraid that someday they would look upon me as a traitor and I would be lost. Still I was more afraid to act any other way because they didn't like that at all. The old man's words were like a curse." (Ellison, Pg. 17). The behavior of his grandfather was an antithesis of his words before he died, this contrast made the narrator aware of something that he is not familiar with and cause the journey of discovery of self-identity for the narrator. This antithesis helps the author introduce the whole idea behind his book and it also gives context about how society felt the guilt that many of them had for not speaking up and fight back. By given away the heart of the book with controversy shows a parallelism of the devoted ideas that society had about the position of African Americans and the different identities.
The author use an antithesis that mark the development of the novel and gives the struggle to the main character through the novel. This antithesis is the behavior of the grandfather “When I was praised for my conduct I felt a guilt that in some way I was doing something that was really against the wishes of the
White folks, that if they had understood they would have desired me to act just the opposite, […] It made me afraid that someday they would look upon me as a traitor and I would be lost. Still I was more afraid to act any other way because they didn't like that at all. The old man's words were like a curse." (Ellison, Pg. 17). The behavior of his grandfather was an antithesis of his words before he died, this contrast made the narrator aware of something that he is not familiar with and cause the journey of discovery of self-identity for the narrator. This antithesis helps the author introduce the whole idea behind his book and it also gives context about how society felt the guilt that many of them had for not speaking up and fight back. By given away the heart of the book with controversy shows a parallelism of the devoted ideas that society had about the position of African Americans and the different identities.
Precis-
In his enlightening novel, Ralph Ellison utilize imagery, as well as antithesis in order to give the purpose of the stories which each to show the problems that race can cause conflict with individuality.
In his enlightening novel, Ralph Ellison utilize imagery, as well as antithesis in order to give the purpose of the stories which each to show the problems that race can cause conflict with individuality.