Question

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

The figurative language device used by Baldwin is the paradox "vindictively polite. "

What is a paradox?

Paradox refers to a language device that involves the use of contradictory words and phrases. In this type of speech, the statement appears to contradict itself.

The author uses the words "vindictively polite" to describe the voice. The words vindictive and polite are contradictory to each other.

Therefore the correct option is D.

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