English: Old man at the Bridge

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Directions: Answer the questions below. Use full sentences when applicable.
1.
Give two examples of each of the following elements of fiction and nonfiction from the texts you’ve read in Units 1, 2, and 3.
Characters: ‘Old man at the Bridge’ the old man and the narrator of the story are the characters. Mr. President is a character in the speech given by Patrick Henry.
Plot: In the ‘Old man at the Bridge’ it is evidenced that war affects both those with and without political inclination. The old man had no political position, but he was affected.
Conflict: In the second passage: the views of the narrator about the conflict differ from those of the old man in the passage. Conflict exists in the second and third passages: there is war in both passages.
Setting: In the second passage, the setting is on a bridge. While in the third passage, the setting is in a parliament.
Point of View: Both President Roosevelt and Patrick Henry highlight their point of views. For instance, Henry states, “the war has actually begun…why should we stand idle?”
Roosevelt sates “we should bring more citizens under the coverage of old-age pensions and unemployment insurance”.
“We should widen the opportunities for medical care”.
“We should plan a better system by which persons needing or deserving gainful employment may gain it”.
Theme: There is the theme of change in both passages one and three. President Roosevelt is yarning for change so does Henry and company.
Style: Passages one, two and three are all written in first person’s view.
Tone: Tone of crisis/war has been highlighted in both Henry’s speech and in the ‘Old man at the Bridge’ passage.
Perspective: In the Roosevelt’s passage, the perspective is that of economical development while in Henry’s speech, the perspective is that of call for action.
Bias: There is bias in terms of how the war is viewed between the narrator and the old man in the ‘Old man at the Bridge’ passage.
Purpose: In the first passage, President Roosevelt shows purpose; the need for change by outlining what ought to be done. In the Henry’s speech, he highlights what the President must do during the ongoing war.
2.
Argue a case for either the usage of hyperbole or understatement. Which do you think is more effective? More humorous? Explain your opinions, citing examples from the texts.
Hyperbole is more effective and humorous than an understatement.
In his speech, Patrick Henry asks the question: Have we showed ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? In this statement, the authors paints the picture that people had become so non-accommodative of others that force had to be employed to bring them to consensus. Hyperbole brings out not only humor, but also irony; this makes it more effective that an understatement.
3.
Cite examples from the texts you’ve read in Units 1, 2, and 3 ...