RHETORIC 101

“Totally Like Whatever” by Taylor Mali The rhetoric of today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKyIw9fs8T4 “Totally Like Whatever” by Taylor Mali

Rhetoric = The manipulation of language for an intended effect Political Speeches Love letters Text messages Memoirs Literature Poetry Song lyrics Lectures Pamphlets Comic Books Protest signs Bumper Stickers

Rhetorical question “How many times are you going to make the same mistake before you get it through your thick skull?!?”

ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE VOICE “Mistakes were made…”

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Metaphor, simile, personification, etc. Personification: Giving a non-human entity a physical, tangible human form. 2 Pac’s gun is personified into a girlfriend: “I'm waitin’ by the phone. This is true love; I could feel it/A lot of women in my bed but you the realest” –2 Pac “96 Bonnie and Clyde”

REPETITON/ANAPHORA Anaphora: Repeating a phrase at the beginning of each clause. Every little step I take, you will be there Every little step I make, we'll be together Every little step I take, you will be there Every little step I make, we'll be together –Bobby Brown “Every Little Step”

ANTIMETABOLE/CHIASMUS Antimetabole: Repetition of words in successive clauses but transposed in grammatical order “The rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble” --Warren G Chiasmus: Transposed grammar only “He knowingly led and we followed blindly“ (adverb/verb; verb/adverb)

HYPERBOLE & UNDERSTATMENT

Ethical, emotional, and logical arguments. ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS Ethical, emotional, and logical arguments.

JUXTAPOSITION Definition: the placement of two things side by side.

ANTITHETICAL JUXTAPOSITION Antithesis: the exact opposite Antithetical Juxtaposition: polar opposites, side by side

IRONIC JUXTAPOSITION

ANALOGY

SYNTAX Which one sounds best? Why? Times like these sure try men’s souls. How trying it is (for men’s souls) in these times. These are trying times for the souls of men. Soul-wise, these are trying times. These are the times that try men’s souls!

SYNTAX & PUNCTUATION Consider the effect of the construction/punctuation: “On a foggy morning another of the Russians is buried; almost every day one of them dies” –All Quiet on the Western Front

Syntax Examples Can you defines these terms? Complex Compound Ellipsis Inverted Loose

Elements of Style Can you define these terms? Asyndeton Colloquial Metaphor Inversion Paradox Pun Proverb

SYNTAX/PUNCTUATION ANALYSIS TIPS Consider the cadence: the rhythm or balance. Does it sound lyrical, flowery, ornate? Does it sound terse, choppy, or monotone? Look for patterns Consider sentence length and type Consider punctuation choice and placement Consider how all of these effects work in concert!

EPIGRAM: a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way. EPITHET: an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned: EPILOGUE: a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened. EPIGRAPH: a short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme. EPITAPH: a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone. EULOGY: is a speech or writing in praise of a person(s) or thing(s), especially one recently dead

DON’T JUST IDENTIFY THE RHETORIC; ANALYZE IT!