James Baldwin's Take on the Effects of Prejudice — Quiz
Question 5 • English Language Arts 11
Read the excerpt from Notes of a Native Son . 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?
Answer
A
He uses the paradox “vindictively polite.”
B
He uses the personification “at the mercy of his pride.”
C
He uses the alliteration “conveyed by his carriage.”
D
He uses the metaphor “presence in his home to be a violation.”
Explanation
“Vindictively polite” combines politeness with a desire for revenge, qualities that seem to conflict. This paradox highlights the anger Baldwin’s father keeps beneath his controlled, outwardly courteous manner. “At the mercy of his pride” is not personification; it describes how his pride controls his temper.
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