Rasselas

1 In the beginning of the selection, what complaint does Rassalas have against his sister’s method of argumentation?
He complains that she exaggerates only on the dark events that rarely happen like a car fire
2 Summarize the 2nd paragraph. Why is “calamity” not so bad?
OFten dreading omething is wrose than the acual event. We can be so fearful and anxious for something to happen that when it does, it doesn't eem all that bad. And life will go on, so it's important to keep ploughing forward.
3 Why does Rasselas believe that “marriage is one of the means of happiness?” What is his sister’s response?
Rasselas believes that marriage is dictated by nature and that men and women were made fr each other. HIs sister, however feels different. She sees how opposite some people are and how they argue and she doesn't feel taht marriage is so wonderful.
4 Summarize the 6th paragraph.
Rasselas is bringing up the point that his sister said that being celebate is a fate worse than marriage. So because she doesn't want to mary ut also doesn't want to remain celibate, these two opinions collide and cancel out, makign so that her mind can be clear to hear the "truth" whatever that may be.
5 The Princess’s response (“To the mind, as to the eye, it is difficult to compare with exactness objects vast…:”) is pretty complicated. What is the philosophical point she’s trying to make?
She is trying to make the point that whn we take in the whole picture of something not jsut look at it in sections, it is easier to let our opinions not show. So how her brother looks at marriage and how she looks at marriage are totally different, but if they step back and take look at marriage as a whole, things opinions won't matter.
6 What argument do the two have about marriage? What good does Rasselas see in it and what evil does his sister see?
Rasselas thinks that marriage is sacred by nature because men and women are made for each other. But, his sister believes that men and women are too different and too violent to be married. She doesn't like the arguing and passionate rage that comes with marriage. She sees evil in the arguing and how people are too afraid not to be married.
7 What rhetorical strategies do you see employed by both speakers? Be specific.
I think both speakers use logos. They are bringing up logical situations where marriage is good and where it is bad. Specifically i think there is parallelism in sentence structure used. "While Courts are disturbed with intestine competitions and ambassadors are negotiating in foreign countries" Noun verb, description. the syntax flow is very important to both speakers