Question

What rhetorical device is used in this excerpt from Mark Twain's "The Danger of Lying in Bed"?

The man in the ticket-office said:

"Have an accident insurance ticket, also?"

"No," I said, after studying the matter over a little. "No, I believe not; I am going to be traveling by rail all day today. However, tomorrow I don't travel. Give me one for tomorrow."

The man looked puzzled. He said:

"But it is for accident insurance, and if you are going to travel by rail—"

"If I am going to travel by rail I sha'n't need it. Lying at home in bed is the thing I am afraid of."

I had been looking into this matter. Last year I traveled twenty thousand miles, almost entirely by rail; the year before, I traveled over twenty-five thousand miles, half by sea and half by rail; and the year before that I traveled in the neighborhood of ten thousand miles, exclusively by rail. I suppose if I put in all the little odd journeys here and there, I may say I have traveled sixty thousand miles during the three years I have mentioned. AND NEVER AN ACCIDENT.



allusion



rhetorical question



anecdote



logic

Answer 1

Answer: anecdote.

An anecdote is a brief story of a personal experience. However, the main characteristic of anecdotes is that they are meant to be stories with a point or purpose. In this case, the narrator is telling a story about his travels by train. He argues that, in all the many miles that he has travelled in recent years, he has never had an accident. The point of this story is to show that he does not believe he requires travel insurance.

Answer 2

Answer:

• Anecdote

Explanation:

An anecdote is a concise story of individual experience. Nonetheless, the fundamental normal for accounts is that they are intended to be stories with a point or reason.

For this situation, the storyteller is recounting to a tale about his movements via train. He contends that, in all the numerous miles that he has gone as of late, he has never had a mishap. The purpose of this story is to show that he does not believe he requires travel insurance.