Smoky Hill High School ENGLISH 03.02 Figurative Language in Argument.Nevaeh Toliver
October 25th, 2020
AP Lang
Daly
03.02 Figurative Language in
Argument
Directions: After reading “Self-Reliance,” answer the questions below using complete sentences
and evidence from the text to support your answers.
Part 1 – Explore the Context and Analyze the Argument
1. What is the historical context of Emerson’s essay? (Research this if necessary.)
- The historical context of Emerson’s essay was that he created it in 1841 to challenge
rationalism and support the transcendental movement.
2. Who is Emerson’s audience?
- Emerson’s audience was the people who seemed to be oblivious to the way imitation
and conformity weren’t allowed and it was also targeted to the people who were
scared to be different and break the rules that society and others were holding them
back from.
3. What is Emerson’s rhetorical situation?
- Emersons rhetorical situation
4. What is Emerson’s thesis?
- Emerson’s thesis is that self-reliance is the only way a person could be great and
achieve.
5. Analyze the claims and evidence Emerson uses to support his thesis.
- The claims and evidence Emerson uses are complete facts, he uses direct calls of
past historical figures/people that people called crazy for believing in themselves and
trusting their own intuition. This whole time, these people were genuinely smart that
had great minds.
Part 2 – Analyze the Figurative Language
Quote
Interpret the
Figurative Language
What is Emerson
saying?
Analyze the Effect
How does this
example affect the
tone or meaning?
Determine the
Purpose