Thomas Paine Answers

Read the excerpt from The Crisis, Number I. "I am as confident as I am that God governs the world that America will never be happy till she gets clear of foreign dominion. Wars without ceasing will break out till that period arrives, and the continent must in the end be conqueror; for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire."Paine uses metaphor to demonstrate that

Read the excerpt from Thomas Paine’s "Common Sense."Every day wears out the little remains of kindred between us and them, and can there be any reason to hope, that as the relationship expires, the affection will increase, or that we shall agree better, when we have ten times more and greater concerns to quarrel over than ever?Paine’s use of phrases such as “little remains,” “relationship expires,” and “quarrel over” suggest that his purpose is to

Read the excerpt from The Crisis, Number I."My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light."Paine most likely uses this language to convince his audience that

Read the excerpt from Common Sense."Ye that oppose independence now, ye know not what ye do; ye are opening a door to eternal tyranny by keeping vacant the seat of government."Paine repeats the word “ye” in order to

Read the excerpt from Common Sense.“To talk of friendship with those in whom our reason forbids us to have faith . . . is madness and folly.”Paine uses the words “madness and folly” to emphasize that the colonists

Which excerpt from Common Sense contains an example of hyperbole?

Read the excerpt from The Crisis, Number I. "I call not upon a few but upon all—not on this state or that state, but on every state—up and help us. . . . Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and repulse it."Paine's purpose in issuing this plea is to

Read the excerpt from Common Sense."Some Massanello may hereafter arise, who, laying hold of popular disquietudes, may collect together the desperate and the discontented, and by assuming to themselves the powers of government may sweep away the liberties of the continent like a deluge."In the excerpt, Paine compares a deluge—a torrential downpour—to the actions of a group of men to illustrate their

Read the excerpt from Common Sense.“In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense.” What is the purpose of the words “simple,” plain,” and “common”?

Which excerpt from The Crisis, Number I contains a simile?