American Literature Swann, 2016-2017

Respond and Think Critically

Thomas Paine’s The Crisis, No. 1 p. 136

Reading Focus 1. How will the American be consoled for their hardships?

2. Why does Paine believe that God will favor the Americans over the British?

3. Why does Paine say that General Howe is “the greatest enemy the Tories have?”

4. Many of Paine’s statements are memorable and moving. Which statements might still

encourage people to face conflicts? Why?

Reading Skills: Analyzing Persuasive Techniques 5. While reading, you listed clues that identify two examples from Paine’s essay as appeals to

reason or emotion. Review your chart. In three sentences, explain how each example works

individually. Then, explain how they work together.

Literary Focus 13. Analyze What is Paine’s main purpose for writing The Crisis? What do you think are the most

powerful details supporting that purpose?

14. Evaluate Consider these lines from Paine’s essay: “Not a place upon earth might be so happy as

America. Her situation is remote from all the wrangling world, and she has nothing to do but to

trade with them” (p. 133). Do these lines reflect America’s situation today? Explain.

15. Analyze Writers’ styles can be defined in part by their use of imagery. What images appear at

the beginning of the essay, and how do these images relate to the author’s overall purpose?

16. Evaluate A metaphor compares two unlike things without using comparison words such as like

or as. Explain the following metaphor: “Though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to

shine, the coal can never expire” (p. 133) Do you agree or disagree with this idea?

Writing Focus Use it in Your Writing Create your own persuasive flier about an issue in your school or

community. Use vivid figurative language like Paine’s in your work.

What Do You Think Now? How do you think Paine influenced people’s beliefs about the war?

Cite specific examples from the text.