Letter to Sarah Ballou

In his “Letter to Sarah Ballou,” Major Sullivan Ballou uses diction, syntax, and imagery to create a tone of profound, yet deferential, love and tribute. His words are carefully selected and interposed to portray the depth of his feelings. Ballou’s love for his country and his love for his wife, Sarah, both permeate through the letter and linger in his words. Through his expressions of these loves, he pays abundant homage to both subjects. “…

…deep love for both his wife and his country. His word-choice is appropriate for the loyal and loving tone of the piece. Ballou is not succinct. Rather, he is eloquent and illustrative in his writing. His words resonate with a tone of unfathomable love and honor. The writer’s imagery is elegant and invokes deep emotions. By disclosing the depth of feeling he has for his two passions, Major Ballou pays incredible homage to both.