question archive Read the historical context below and answer the questions that follow to analyze Sojourner Truth's diction and syntax
Read the historical context below and answer the questions that follow to analyze Sojourner Truth's diction and syntax
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Read the historical context below and answer the questions that follow to analyze Sojourner Truth's diction and syntax.
Sojourner Truth was an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist. She was born into slavery in New York but escaped with her infant daughter in 1826. She delivered the speech "Ain't I a Woman?" at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in 1851.
- How would the following sentiment be different if Truth used the word "should" instead of "better"?
"If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them."
- Truth uses periodic syntax and an allusion in the following quote: "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!" To whom does Truth refer? What is the purpose of the allusion? What is the effect of the periodic sentence?
- Now it is your turn! Rewrite the following sentence using balanced syntax. "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!"
- Discuss the effect of changing the sentence's structure. Which structure is more effective? Explain.
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- How would the following sentiment be different if Truth used the word "should" instead of "better"?
- Using 'should' over 'better' may incline more on the sense that Truth is telling men to allow women to 'turn the world upside down' with the possibility that how they will do so might be at par with how men do it. However, using "better" gives us the idea women 'turning the world upside down, turn it back and get it on the right side again' will produce greater and better results, thus men better allow them. No buts, no ifs.
A. Truth allows us to see how women can act by themselves without depending on anyone. It highlights women's strength when working together. The purpose of the allusion (portraying to the first woman God ever made) is to let the readers know that we aren't bound to partiarchal views. We should be open to the fact that women work well; as they turn things 'upside down,' they can also 'turn it back.' The periodic sentence gives us the effect of suspense and emphasis to the aforementioned.
B. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the upside down all alone, then together they can bring it back and make it work again.
C. Using periodic syntax is much more effective. As mentioned earlier, it emphasizes the point of each clause with a hint of suspense for the readers and/or listeners.
