Analyzing Rhetorical Techniques in Machiavelli’s The Prince
Question 10 of 20 • CR_English II B_1104_SAISD 25-26
Read the passage from chapter 17 of The Prince.And of all princes, it is impossible for the new prince to avoid the imputation of cruelty, owing to new states being full of dangers. Hence Virgil, through the mouth of Dido, excuses the inhumanity of her reign owing to its being new, saying:"Res dura, et regni novitas me talia coguntMoliri, et late fines custode tueri."(*)Nevertheless he ought to be slow to believe and to act, nor should he himself show fear, but proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence may not make him incautious and too much distrust render him intolerable.. . . against my will, my fateA throne unsettled, and an infant state,Bid me defend my realms with all my pow'rs,And guard with these severities my shores.
Answer
A
Machiavelli uses historical evidence to point out that many new rulers have used cruelty.
B
Machiavelli uses empirical evidence to makes points about the use of power.
C
Machiavelli uses logical evidence to assert that it is acceptable for new princes to use cruelty.
D
Machiavelli uses anecdotal evidence to show that new rulers need to be cruel.