Langston Hughes Salvation Rhetorical Devices
Salvation In “Salvation,” Langston Hughes recounts a pivotal moment from his childhood regarding his own discoveries of religion. Hughes uses syntax, diction, repetition, and irony to expose the issues with organized religion. Throughout the passage he establishes a tone of confusion in order to convey the true influence of his Aunt and Preacher pushing him towards religion. From this Hughes’ own experiences, religion is obviously a complex theme of self-discovery that cannot be forced.
Syntax is utilized frequently to draw emphasize to specific statements and create a larger impact of words. This begins in the first two sentences where Hughes first describes the first time he is saved from sin and following with the sentence “But not really …show more content…
As this belief is unrealized, the word “nothing” is repeated to further build tension and express his own disappointment. The last use of repetition is the last paragraph, “...I cried. I cried, in bed alone, and couldn’t stop.” At first the audience is led to believe the speaker is upset over the fact he lied, but by the last sentence it becomes apparent he was crying over his lack of faith. Irony is undoubtedly the most significant use of a rhetorical device in the entire passage. It’s established that the entire story will be based on irony when Hughes’ contradicts himself in the first sentence saying he was saved, “But not really saved.” Another example of irony, is the preacher’s sermon. It’s meant to lead the children toward Jesus, but it’s described as “...prayers and songs swirled around me…” revealing that the sermon only confuses Hughes’ more instead of guiding him. This finally comes to a head at the last sentence where he reveals he no longer believes in Jesus “...since he didn’t come to help me,” meaning his aunt and the preacher turned him away from religion, rather than leading him to it. Through “Salvation,” Langston Hughes leads the reader through a journey of self-discovery and irony in regards religion. It becomes glaringly apparent that religion cannot be forced by others, but
Syntax is utilized frequently to draw emphasize to specific statements and create a larger impact of words. This begins in the first two sentences where Hughes first describes the first time he is saved from sin and following with the sentence “But not really …show more content…
As this belief is unrealized, the word “nothing” is repeated to further build tension and express his own disappointment. The last use of repetition is the last paragraph, “...I cried. I cried, in bed alone, and couldn’t stop.” At first the audience is led to believe the speaker is upset over the fact he lied, but by the last sentence it becomes apparent he was crying over his lack of faith. Irony is undoubtedly the most significant use of a rhetorical device in the entire passage. It’s established that the entire story will be based on irony when Hughes’ contradicts himself in the first sentence saying he was saved, “But not really saved.” Another example of irony, is the preacher’s sermon. It’s meant to lead the children toward Jesus, but it’s described as “...prayers and songs swirled around me…” revealing that the sermon only confuses Hughes’ more instead of guiding him. This finally comes to a head at the last sentence where he reveals he no longer believes in Jesus “...since he didn’t come to help me,” meaning his aunt and the preacher turned him away from religion, rather than leading him to it. Through “Salvation,” Langston Hughes leads the reader through a journey of self-discovery and irony in regards religion. It becomes glaringly apparent that religion cannot be forced by others, but