Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.
But no one burns Emma No one would dare. There is too much concentrated here: too much history, too much respect, too much of the very essence of civilization, which is, I must tell you, connected to its Literature. ("The City of Invention," p. 13
When the author describes how everyone knows the burning of a great literary classic would be a tragedy, she is employing what rhetorical device?
ethos

logos

anticipating counterargument

a persuasive tone

Answer 1

Ethos I believe I am doing a course on rhetorical strategies right now

Answer 2

Answer: Ethos

An appeal to ethos is one that references morality and ethical values. In this case, the author claims that no one wanted to burn the book Emma. People refused to do it because they believed that this book concentrated too much history, respect and the values of civilization. These arguments are not objective facts or emotional pleas. Instead, they force the reader to ponder on the ethical implications of destroying something so valuable for civilization.