Question

analyzing us world war ii political messages
determining the speakers purpose

yes, 1943 will not be an easy year for us on the home front. we shall feel in many ways in our daily lives the sharp pinch of total war.

• state of the union address, 1943, franklin d. roosevelt

how does the use of the phrase \sharp pinch\ help roosevelt achieve his purpose?

• it makes the audience wince at the idea of withstanding hardship.
• it helps the audience imagine the pain of the upcoming year in a relatable way.
• it makes the upcoming year seem like it will be nothing more than a simple pinch.

Explanation:

Analyze the text and context

The excerpt is from Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1943 State of the Union address: "Yes, 1943 will not be an easy year for us on the home front. We shall feel in many ways in our daily lives the sharp pinch of total war."

The speaker's purpose is to prepare the American public on the home front for the inevitable sacrifices and difficulties of wartime life in 1943.

Evaluate the phrase "sharp pinch"

The phrase "sharp pinch" is a physical metaphor. A "pinch" is a common, relatable physical sensation that causes brief, sharp discomfort but is ultimately survivable. By using this phrase, Roosevelt describes the abstract and massive hardships of "total war" in a tangible, physical, and relatable way that the general public can easily visualize and understand.

Assess the options

• Option 1: "It makes the audience wince at the idea of withstanding hardship."

This is incorrect because Roosevelt's goal is to encourage resilience and prepare the public, not to make them recoil or wince in fear of the upcoming hardships.

• Option 2: "It helps the audience imagine the pain of the upcoming year in a relatable way."

This is correct. Using Audience and Purpose analysis, we see that a "pinch" is a highly relatable sensation. It translates the complex, large-scale economic and social sacrifices of total war into a simple, physical metaphor that everyone can immediately comprehend.

• Option 3: "It makes the upcoming year seem like it will be nothing more than a simple pinch."

This is incorrect because Roosevelt explicitly states that 1943 "will not be an easy year" and refers to "total war," meaning he is not trying to downplay or trivialize the challenges as merely a "simple pinch."

Answer:

• It makes the audience wince at the idea of withstanding hardship.
• It helps the audience imagine the pain of the upcoming year in a relatable way. (Correct answer)
• It makes the upcoming year seem like it will be nothing more than a simple pinch.