On Compassion

By Barbara Lazear Ascher

Betia Salas

1. The author displays diction as well as parallel syntax in the sentence “Carefully
plaited dread-locks bespeak a better time, long ago.” This sentence uses the words
“carefully” and “plaited” in order to instill a sense of tenderness and calm from the
past. These two well chosen words contrast with the words from the sentence
before: “His buttonless shirt, with one sleeve missing, hangs outside the waist of his
baggy trousers.” where the words “missing” “hangs” and “baggy” create a sense of
carelessness and sloppiness. The contrast is also very effective because the sentence
are parallel to each other and by adding contrasting diction, the comparison becomes
vivid to the reader. The purpose of this contrast, indicated through diction and
syntax, is most likely to present to the reader the humane misfortune of the man’s
homelessness and how he was once a man who cared about himself and his life like
any human would do.

Foreshadowing is used in the author’s description of the small French bread shop.
The author uses a selection of detail and tone in the lines “…there is a small French
bread shop where you can sit and eat a buttery, overpriced croissant and wash it
down with rich cappuccino.” The author’s selection of detail in describing the
indulgence of the shop as well as their tone of guilt combine to create a sense that
someone, not so capable of paying for an overpriced, buttery croissant and a cup of
rich cappuccino is going to walk in.

Ascher also uses a combination of irony, absurd or bizarre imagery, and figurative
language in the line “The baby, weary of the unwavering stare, pulls its blanket over
its head. The man does not look away. Like a bridegroom waiting at the altar, his
eyes pierce the white veil.” This strange imagery and figurative language almost
creates a sense of bizarre curiosity and hopefulness. Usually, when a groom is
waiting at the altar for his bride, he is waiting in hope to see her, and also in
curiosity. This feeling may be what the Ascher was aiming for in order to convey the
homeless man’s curiosity and hope for the normal life where people had families to
care for and be able to support.

2. Paragraphs 1-6 are written in narrative style including specific details,

descriptions, and third person narration. The beginning of the essay is an anecdote
that sets the tone, subject matter, and hook for the essay. Paragraph 6 then
concludes the essay with a question that the entire essay revolves around “Was it
fear or compassion that motivated the gift?”. In paragraphs 7-9, the author dives
back into another anecdote which is very similar to the first, however, this time,
foreshadowing is created because the author is now familiar with the outcome of the
first anecdote and will now expect a similar outcome for the second anecdote. The
discourse of the essay then makes a shift from anecdote style to straightforward and
factual discourse in paragraphs 10-12. Ascher describes the homeless situation in
New York in the present where the mayor is planning to move all homeless
individuals into involuntary hospitalization. Also, the author begins to state her
viewpoint on the issue of homelessness and New York’s attitude towards it. Lastly, in
the last two paragraphs, Ascher links her anecdotes from the first two divisions and
her facts and opinions from the third division to a broad conclusion that addresses
the major key concepts of empathy and compassion overall.
The speaker’s appeal to Ethos can be found in her statements explaining how she is
a valid witness of the anecdotes she includes in her essay which can be observed in
the lines “Twice I have witnessed this, and twice I have wondered..” This creates an
impression of admiral validity to her essay since she witnessed the topic firsthand.

Ascher also uses logos in order to create logical appeal in her essay. This can be
observed in the sentence “Compassion is not a character trait like a sunny
disposition. It must be learned, and it is learned by having adversity at our
windows..”. The author proves her point that compassion is not something one is
born with by making a logical comparison. People aren’t born with a sunny
disposition and thus compassion isn’t a born character trait as well.

Finally, Ascher’s most effective appeal in her essay is emotional appeal. Ascher uses
strong emotional diction in order to move readers, which can be observed in the
following lines “We want to protect ourselves from an awareness of rags with voices
that make no sense and scream forth in inarticulate rage. We do not wish to be
reminded of the tentative state of our own wellbeing and sanity.” The powerful words
that Ascher chose create such vivid imagery that burns into the readers’ minds. By
creating such imagery, readers are more likely to finish the essay and still think,
wonder, and reflect upon what they have read while the emotional impact of the
essay remains with them.

4. The main purpose of the author is to inform the reader of the cowardice of
mankind when man is presented with adversity such as homelessness. Mankind
usually turns a blind eye to the social problems around us, and thus, their cowardice
results in worsening the situation. If man were to accept the adversity around us,
address the issue, and work towards eliminating this injustice that we fear to look at,
then wouldn’t the world have made a giant leap towards progress? Ascher uses her
own experiences, which are very commonplace and easy to relate to for many, in
order to aid her audience in relating with the issue. Many people have witnessed
adversity and many people, whether they are willing to admit the fact or not, have
turned away from it. The readers can relate to the story, either directly or indirectly
and thus, her perspective of the issue becomes the reader’s perspective to relate to.
Diction Packet 7 and 8

7a) The author uses several “heavy” words that make the reader almost feel the
heaviness of the snowy world surrounding the author such as “sagging” “load”
“weight” “immensities” and “dipped”.

There is also a lot of words describing solitude and isolation such as “lonelier” “lost”
“solitary” “silence”. Many of these words create a melancholy tone to the narrative
piece even though the author uses the noun “we”, the audience still feels as if
they’re all alone in the middle of a desolate, white landscape.

Lastly, the author uses diction that makes the reader feel a slight sensation of fear
such as “starved” “writhing” “bent”. These slightly fearful word choices are most
likely used by the author to complement loneliness as fear can result from the feeling
of being absolutely alone.

8a) The first paragraph is more engaging due to vivid imagery, specific detail and
animated and lively diction. The words “punctual as death”, “angry growl” and
“revived” create exaggeration and light humor to the piece. Also, the description of
the school bus is so vivid and lifelike as if the bus had a mind of its own. The words
“suck the boy in” “spring away” and “open its mouth” almost creates a wild beastly
type of animal kind of imagery for the reader and adds character and liveliness to
the piece. The second piece however has no character, emotion, or appeal as it lacks
both interesting diction as well as detail.