Question

Read the excerpt from Notes of a Native Son. The only white people who came to our house were welfare workers and bill collectors. It was almost always my mother who dealt with them, for my father’s temper, which was at the mercy of his pride, was never to be trusted. It was clear that he felt their very presence in his home to be a violation: this was conveyed by his carriage, almost ludicrously stiff, and by his voice, harsh and vindictively polite. Which figurative language device does Baldwin use to emphasize the rage buried beneath his father’s outward appearance and actions? He uses the personification "at the mercy of his pride. " He uses the alliteration "conveyed by his carriage. " He uses the metaphor "presence in his home to be a violation. " He uses the paradox "vindictively polite. ".

Answer 1

When it comes to emphasizing the rage buried beneath his father's appearance and actions, the figurative language we should select as the best option is:

D. He uses the paradox "vindictively polite."

The reason to choose paradox

Baldwin uses more than one type of figurative language in the excerpt. We do have both personification and paradox being employed. However, the personification shows his father's lack of control over his emotions, and that is not what we need here.

We are looking for the figurative language that emphasizes the rage hidden behind the father's actions and appearance, and that would be the paradox "vindictively polite." A paradox puts together words that seem contradictory. Usually, someone who is vindictive is not polite.

What Baldwin means is that his father would appear polite but, on the inside, his rage would be burning. Therefore, his appearance and his feelings are paradoxical. Thus, letter D is the best choice for this question.

Learn more about figurative language here:

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