Question

Why can't I forget the earnest eyes of the man who said to me in Jordan, "Until you speak Arabic, you will not understand pain"? Ridiculous, I thought. He went on, something to do with an Arab carrying sorrow in the back of the skull that only language cracks. A few words couldn't do it. A general passive understanding wasn't enough. At a neighborhood fair in Texas, somewhere between the German Oom-pah Sausage Stand and the Mexican Gorditas booth, I overheard a young man say to his friend, "I wish I had a heritage. Sometimes I feel — so lonely for one." And the tall American trees were dangling their thick branches right down over his head.

—"Speaking Arabic," Naomi Shihab Nye
What is Nye's purpose in her essay?
to explain why she dislikes her heritage
to show that everyone has a cultural heritage
to illustrate the difference between heritages
Which appeal does the anecdote about the young man use?
logos
patho
sethos

Answer 1

Naomi Shihab Nye's essay underscores the significance of cultural heritage and its impact on understanding emotions. The anecdote about the young man employs pathos to evoke empathy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The essay by Naomi Shihab Nye, based on the excerpt provided, doesn't aim to explain why she dislikes her heritage or solely highlight the difference between heritages. Instead, it seems to discuss the importance and individuality of cultural heritage, potentially suggesting that one's connection to their heritage can influence their understanding of complex emotions like pain. The anecdote about the young man longing for a heritage likely utilizes pathos, as it appeals to emotions by expressing his feelings of loneliness and desire for a cultural connection.