Preview

Literary Devices in Declaration of Independence

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
553 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Literary Devices in Declaration of Independence
In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson established his position as one of the many persons who wanted to dissolve their bonds with Britain in order to looked for their Independence; they could found a new country based in their ideals in which every person could express one’s point of view, so everyone would be equal in the eyes of the new government. His ideas of independency are incorporate in every paragraph of the Declaration, for visualize what are his thoughts and feelings about his and the colonist people’s situation. For example, the “establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states” (p. 1 para. 2) led to a large list of complaints against the king of Great Britain, which demonstrates the anger and desperation of the people interpreted by Jefferson words.

In the Preamble, Jefferson appeal to Ethos so as to explain that is necessary to people to dissolve their bonds with British and say why of this action, so they would be free. He used positive connotation words to elevate the confidence of the country, so they could assume the future responsibility of fight for their land. In “nature’s God entitled them” (p. 1 para. 1) Jefferson emphasize religion, which was in that moment what people put their hope in, as an emotional push, so they would “assume among the powers of the earth” (p.1 para. 1).

Moreover in the Declaration, based in logos, Jefferson intensify the creation of the new government that has the duty of protect all men’s unalienable right. The use of anaphora is notable during this paragraph like the word “that”, to summarize the “truths” of “that all men are created equal” (p. 1 para. 2) giving as a result the use of allusion in words like “human rights, God laws of nature and founding fathers”. In this, logos is used as cause and effect, so it indicates what people should do if their government doesn’t work as it should be “whenever any form of government becomes destructive… it is right to people… to abolish it” (p. 1

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence was an important political figure among the thirteen colonies. He was outspoken against the British’s rule over America and an incredible writer, that’s why they picked him to write the document. Thomas Jefferson, being a proud patriot wanted his independence but none the less would still be civil and respectful to the king while stating facts to support the colonies case for independence. During the time it was written, Brittain was abusing their power over the colonies with different kinds of taxes over basic goods like stamps and tea. The colonists were frustrated that they could be taxed without having a say in the government that was taxing them. Thomas Jefferson wrote out…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thesis: Thomas Jefferson’s The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, is the announcement of the colonist to gain independence from Great Britain. Summary: Jefferson strongly believes that every man deserves the basic rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.…

    • 244 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson serves as a representative for the Thirteen Colonies by stating their grievances against King George the III. He elaborates on the complaints by giving his reasons for why it is necessary that the colonies break away from Great Britain and King George 's rule. He states that the king has neglected, restricted, and deprived the colonies of their rights. Jefferson is able to clearly get his message across by using a variety of rhetorical devices, which include allusions, anaphora, details, diction, imagery, and tone. He uses these literary devices effectively to help convey his message, although Jefferson 's most effective rhetorical device proves to be his persuasive appeal, meaning ethos, pathos and logos. With these techniques he is able to appeal to the audience 's emotions, ethics, and logic, helping Jefferson to further prove his points valid.…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The fervent appetite for freedom is a flame that is not easily extinguished. This passion is demonstrated in The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson thoughtfully and carefully employs his language and diction in order to sway the reader to fight for their rights and justice.…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Support for independence swept the colonies in the spring of 1776, and the continental congress called for states to form their own governments and a five-man committee was assigned to draft a declaration. To justify American independence, Thomas Jefferson incorporated some of the ideas of john Locke, an advocate of natural rights. The declaration features the immortal lines, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Congress, July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote to King George III for the American colonists to proclaim freedom. Jefferson wanted independence because he believed that it would be a better option for America to have a society that is treated equally and fairly. Through the use of persuasive elements, he successfully presented his evidence and reasoning as to why he believed America should part their ways from Great Britain and King George III to create the society America deserved.…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Jefferson was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1743. At that time, slavery had been in Virginia almost 75 years (Jefferson’s Views on Slavery). Thomas Jefferson was intelligent and shy, however, his writing skill was a powerful weapon. In 1774, he wrote A Summary View of the Rights of British America. This booklet devoted many ideas for one of his most famous compositions – the Declaration of Independence. It was written in 1776. and this document is about not only human rights but also as “America’s most succinct statement of its philosophy of government” (Thomas Jefferson: Life in Brief.) Besides that, Jefferson’s workmate, George Mason, was the first one who advised an idea “pursuing happiness” in the Declaration of Independence. However, Thomas Jefferson believed his own words in the Declaration of Independence by different ways, for example, a main purpose of the document was “all men are created equal”, his aspects about black people and slavery were complicated, and…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress expresses the thirteen American colonies desire to disjoin from Great Britain. Chapter 4 of “After the Fact,” entitled Declaring Independence, presents factual viewpoints of historians as well as thorough examinations aroused from the possible confusions of the renowned document.…

    • 1541 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thomas Jefferson is known as the writer of the Declaration of Independence, written in the year of 1776. The Declaration of Independence was a statement of the colonists’ freedom from the rule of the British monarchy. In the Declaration, Jefferson listed the inalienable rights, which were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The inalienable rights were the rights that were naturally given to man, and the British monarchy could not take them away. The key arguments that Thomas Jefferson made in favor of the separation of the colonies from Great Britain were that the King raised the amount of the quartering of the troops, he protected his people from a trial by having them tried in Britain, he cut off the trade of the colonists with all…

    • 364 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In Jefferson’s hands the rhythm and building pressure to the revelation of its three central human rights elevate the political necessities to heroic ideals. In fact the Declaration proved so stirring that Washington ordered it read to the American troops. Stephen E Lucas, in his essay “The Stylistic Artistry of the Declaration of Independence”(3) notes that Jefferson turned to the writing of Milton, Pope, and Shakespeare, among others, and that he wrote “for the ear as well as for the…

    • 1656 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Strong ideals are the factors of a strong country. In June of 1776, Thomas Jefferson was asked by members of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia to draft a document that would declare their colonies as independent from the kingdom of Britain. In the second paragraph of the document, Jefferson identifies a number of ideals such as equality, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, consent of the governed, and the right to alter or to abolish one’s government. An which of these pillars of belief is the most important. In consideration, consent of the governed seems to stand out as the most important ideal of the declaration, with equality, liberty, and the right to alter or abolish as supporting pillars on either side.…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence as a ground for the separation of the colonies, when king George III refused to receive the conciliatory Olive Branch Petition and he rejected, in response he closes the trade to colonies except Great Britain, which lead to the economic declaration of independence, and political declaration of independence. The structure of the declaration has an argument that stated, ``The consent of the governed`` if they didn´t had the consent people might assert for ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness``, laws of nature and of nature’s God they were entitle to, therefore they should declare all causes that impel them to separation. The Grievances were directed to king George III his abuses…

    • 166 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In accordance to the Age of Enlightenment where individuals sought to shed the light of science and reason on the world in order to question traditional ideas, Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration of Independence” borrows enlightenment ideals from major figures, such as John Locke, to enhance his rational message of colonial separation from British rule. According to Immanuel Kant, the Enlightenment is man’s emancipation from self-imposed immaturity to use their own reason; he explains how individuals can reach enlightenment, and thus true freedom, through scholarly and public criticism of laws and practices in order to progress towards a just society. With reason as a source of light to both, how did Jefferson’s views on individual freedom compare…

    • 233 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In “the Declaration of Independence” (1776), Thomas Jefferson, argues that the colonies need to get their independence from Great Britain because instead of respecting them they have been abusing and taking advantage of the colonies. Thomas Jefferson reinforces his point of view by listing all the ways that King George has been abusing his powers, and he points out how all men deserve “ life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (95). Jefferson knows that his people aren’t happy with the way that they are being treated, so in order to stand up for his people and support them he declared independence from Britain. In a serious and furious tone he made it clear to King George and the british people that they didn’t want to keep being unhappy…

    • 138 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    I think Jefferson feels that the rule of government is to be aware of whether it is corrupt or not. Its their duty to throw out or establish a new or better government.…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays