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What Is Emerson's Use Of Figurative Language In Self Reliance

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What Is Emerson's Use Of Figurative Language In Self Reliance
Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, lecturer, and poet. In Ralphs essay "Self-Reliance" during the time of the transcendentalism, in 1841. Transcendentalism is the idea of ones thought and spiritual things are more real than ordinary human experiences and material things. Emerson's purpose is focusing on describing on hoe you should do what you believe is right, rather than going with what society thinks. Emerson adopts a philosophical tone in order to convince the reader to not be a follower, to be a leader. Emerson achieves his purpose through the use of figurative language and independent diction.

Emerson starts off poetically, then later on in paragraph 1 when he introduces Hyperbole, metaphors, and aphorisms. Emerson uses "a

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