Analysis Of My Great-Grandfather's Slaves By Wendell Berry

“My Great-Grandfather’s Slaves,” by Wendell Berry, discusses the guilt felt by Berry whose ancestors owned African American slaves. As with after any man-inflicted atrocity, there is always remorse felt by the oppressing side. In this case, the disgrace falls on Berry who could have done nothing to stop slavery from happening. Yet, the author still shows an immense amount of emotion and self-reflection for the wrongdoings of his ancestors. With the use of literary techniques such as tone anaphoras and structure, Berry is able to construct a potent poem where he empathizes with the slaves of his great-grandparents.

The main way in which the author conveys his thoughts in a meaningful poem is through shifting tone and a flowing yet intense