Question

Read the letter carefully and write a well developed essay that analyzes the rhetorical strategies Browning uses to petition Napoleon.​

Answer 1

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In her "Letter to Napoleon III," Elizabeth Barrett Browning employs several rhetorical strategies to urge Napoleon III to forgive the author Victor Hugo and free him from his imprisonment.

Browning uses ethos when she presents herself as a fair person. Ethos refers to an appeal to credibility, and Browning employs it when she agrees with Napoleon about the wrong nature of Victor Hugo's actions. She also employs a paradox to force Napoleon to pay close attention to her argument. The paradox is that, even though Victor Hugo acted against the emperor, he deserves to be free. Browning employs anaphora when she repeats the phrase "what touches you" in order to convince Napoleon of the importance of his reputation. Finally, she uses pathos (an appeal to emotion) when she highlights how grateful and admiring Napoleon's subjects will be if he pardons Victor Hugo.