Answer:
On July 5, 1852, Douglass gave a speech at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, held at Rochester's Corinthian Hall. It was biting oratory, in which the speaker told his audience, "This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.
Figurative language is most common in poetry, but poetry does not always explore thought in a concise way, more often it tried to convey a feeling or an impression than treats the subject in detail.
Therefore I would choose a "novel" - it can use figurative language (unlike exploratory essay), but it also deals with ideas and thought is a profound, comprehensive way (but note that some poems will also do that!)