Question

What purpose do the historical anecdotes serve in James Baldwin's "For Want of a Horseshoe Nail" and Robert E. Lee's "Letter to His Son"?








A.
They serve as emotional appeals.







B.
They illustrate each piece's main idea.







C.
They serve as attention-grabbing hooks.







D.
They answer common questions that readers have.

Answer 1

@Atrineas

Answer 2

Are these poems? If so can you post em

Answer 3

Hello?

Answer 4

sure

Answer 5

let me find them

Answer 6

K thanks ^-^

Answer 7

This famous legend and rhyme are based on the demise of England’s King Richard III, whose defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 has been immortalized by Shakespeare’s famous line: “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” The story is a nice foil for “King Alfred and the Cakes.” It reminds us that little duties neglected bring great downfalls.

King Richard the Third was preparing for the fight of his life. An army led by Henry, Earl of Richmond, was marching against him. The contest would determine who would rule England.
The morning of the battle, Richard sent a groom to make sure his favorite horse was ready.
“Shoe him quickly,” the groom told the blacksmith. The king wishes to ride at the head of his troops.”
“You’ll have to wait,” the blacksmith answered. “I’ve shoed the king’s whole army the last few days and now I’ve got to go get more iron.”
“I can’t wait,” the groom shouted impatiently. “The king’s enemies are advancing right now, and we must meet them on the field. Make do with what you have.”
So the blacksmith bent to his task. From a bar of iron he made four horseshoes. He hammered and shaped and fitted them to the horse’s feet. Then he began to nail them on. But after he had fastened three shoes, he found he did not have enough nails for the fourth.
“I need one or two more nails,” he said, “and it will take some time to hammer them out.”
“I told you I can’t wait,” the groom said impatiently. “I hear the trumpets now. Can’t you just use what you’ve got?”
“I can put the shoe on, but it won’t be as secure as the others.”
“Well, then, just nail it on,” the groom cried. “And hurry, or King Richard will be angry with us both.”

The armies clashed, and Richard was in the thick of the battle. He rode up and down the field, cheering his men and fighting his foes. “Press forward! Press forward!” he yelled, urging his troops toward Henry’s lines.
Far away, at the other side of the field, he saw some of his men falling back. If others saw them, they too might retreat. So Richard spurred his horse and galloped toward the broken line, calling on his soldiers to turn and fight.
He was barely halfway across the field when one of the horse’s shoes flew off. The horse stumbled and fell, and Richard was thrown to the ground.
Before the king could grab at the reins, the frightened animal rose and galloped away. Richard looked around him. He saw that his soldiers were turning and running, and Henry’s troops were closing around him.
He waved his sword in the air. “A horse!” he shouted. “A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”
But there was no horse for him. His army had fallen to pieces, and his troops were busy trying to save themselves. A moment later Henry’s soldiers were upon Richard, and the battle was over.
And since that time, people have said,

For want of a nail, a shoe was lost,
For want of a shoe, a horse was lost,
For want of a horse, a battle was lost,
For want of a battle, a kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

Answer 8

that's the horseshoe nail one

Answer 9

You must study to be frank with the world. Frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do, on every occasion, and take it for granted that you mean to do right. If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it, if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot; you would wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.

Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at the sacrifice. Deal kindly but firmly with all your classmates; you will find it the policy which wears best. Above all, do not appear to others what you are not.

If you have any fault to find with any one, tell him, not others, of what you complain; there is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back.

Photograph of Robert E. Lee and his Son

Robert E. Lee (seated) is pictured shortly after the War. On the left of the picture is his son, General George Washington Custis Lee, and on the right is his chief of staff, Colonel Walter H. Taylor


We should live, act, and say nothing to the injury of any one. It is not only for the best as a matter of principle, but it is the path of peace and honor.

In regard to duty, let me, in conclusion of this hasty letter, inform you that nearly a hundred years ago there was a day of remarkable gloom and darkness -- still known as "the dark day" -- a day when the light of the sun was slowly extinguished, as if by an eclipse.

The Legislature of Connecticut was in session, and as its members saw the unexpected and unaccountable darkness coming on, they shared in general awe and terror. It was supposed by many that the last day -- the day of judgment -- had come. Some one, in the consternation of the hour, moved an adjournment.

Then there arose an old Puritan legislator, Davenport, of Stamford, and said that, if the last day had come, he desired to be found at his place doing his duty, and therefore moved that candles be brought in, so that the House could proceed with its duty.

There was quietness in that man's mind, the quietness of heavenly wisdom and inflexible willingness to obey present duty. Duty, then, is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things like the old Puritan. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less. Never let your mother or me wear one gray hair for any lack of duty on your part.

Answer 10

and that is the letter to his son poem

Answer 11

Do you know the answer yet?

Answer 12

I want to say C but I'm not sure...

Answer 13

@spitcoda gtg for a lil while