3.05 Autobiography

Throughout the story, Cisneros uses a variety of rhetorical devices to convey the narrator's feelings and experiences. For example, she uses repetition to emphasize the importance of the narrator's role as the only daughter in the family. The phrase "only daughter" is repeated several times throughout the story, showing how the narrator feels both privileged and burdened by this distinction.

Cisneros also uses imagery to create a sense of connection between the narrator and her father. For example, she describes how the narrator's father "puts his hands on [her] shoulders and looks into [her] eyes" and tells her that she is "the only one who can save him." This description creates a sense of intimacy and emotional connection between the narrator and her father, and shows how their relationship is both supportive and complex.

In addition, Cisneros uses rhetorical questions to challenge the reader's assumptions about gender roles and expectations. For example, the narrator asks, "Why do they think a daughter is a lesser son?" This question challenges the idea that daughters are inferior to sons and encourages the reader to think critically about the ways in which gender shapes people's experiences and opportunities.