Question

question 5 of 10
read this excerpt from common sense:

wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for god’s sake,
let us come to a final separation, and not leave the next
generation to be cutting throats, under the violated
unmeaning names of parent and child.

which is the most prominent kind of rhetorical appeal thomas paine uses
here?

a. parallelism
b. diction
c. pathos
d. ethos

Explanation:

Pathos is a rhetorical appeal that targets the audience's emotions. Thomas Paine uses vivid, emotional language ("blows will do", "cutting throats", "violated unmeaning names of parent and child") to evoke anger, fear, and a sense of urgency in the reader, pushing them to support separation. Parallelism is a structural device, diction refers to word choice broadly, and ethos appeals to credibility, none of which are the primary appeal here.

Answer:

C. Pathos