Part A

How have Black Hawk’s cultural experiences shaped his view of his ancestors?


They convinced him that he will be able to offer further guidance and inspiration to his offspring after death, as his ancestors did for him in his time of need.


They made him believe his deceased ancestors offer guidance and inspiration to the living, and their spirits must be respected and honored.

They confirmed for him that his ancestors would have acted just as he did had they faced the same situation.


They gave him confidence that his ancestors were morally sound because they were able to offer him guidance and inspiration at the height of his moral conflict.

Part B

How does Black Hawk use rhetoric in this excerpt to advance the viewpoint selected in Part A?

The spirit of our fathers arose and spoke to us to avenge our wrongs or die . . . . We set up the war-whoop, and dug up the tomahawk; our knives were ready, and the heart of Black Hawk swelled high in his bosom when he led his warriors to battle. He is satisfied. He will go to the world of spirits contented. He has done his duty.


He uses telos to appeal to the audience’s shared sense of purpose.

He uses pathos to appeal to the audience’s emotion and feeling.


He uses logos to appeal to the audience’s sense of reason and logic.


He uses ethos to appeal to the audience’s sense of morality and justice.