Question

The author includes the story about the father and child to:

A) Shame his readers into action.
B) Entertain his readers.
C) Persuade his readers to do nothing.
D) Stir up noble feelings in his readers.

Answer 1

The author includes the story about the father and child to stir up noble feelings in his readers (option d), utilizing rhetorical strategies to evoke empathy and encourage reflection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the author including the story about the father and child is to stir up noble feelings in his readers (Option D). By integrating stories that evoke pathos, such as the compassion for slaveholders and the dedication of children in preventing fires, the author aims to generate a sense of empathy and guilt among the readers.

This rhetorical strategy aligns with the broader goal of literature, which is to reflect the complexities and contradictions of human existence, rather than to distill simplistic messages or moral truisms. The inclusion of such stories in literature, as seen in the references provided, is often an attempt to provoke a deeper engagement with the subject and encourage readers to reflect on their own attitudes and behaviors.