An Introduction Rhetoric: What makes certain speakers so effective? Listen to the following excerpts from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and write down what you notice about his words.

Frederick Douglass Rhetorical Devices in

Rhetoric Definition: the art of using words in speaking (or writing) so as to persuade or influence others Definition: the art of using words in speaking (or writing) so as to persuade or influence others We study rhetoric –To perceive how language is at work orally and in writing –To become proficient in applying the resources of language in our own speaking and writing

Rhetorical Devices Definition: specific, identifiable language techniques used in rhetoric. Definition: specific, identifiable language techniques used in rhetoric. Rhetorical devices are Rhetorical devices are –content-centered (what) –form-embedded (how)

Content-Centered: Pathos Appeal to emotion Appeal to emotion –Empathy, compassion, outrage Example: Example: –“…after rolling up his sleeves, he commenced to lay on the heavy cowskin, and soon the warm, red blood (amid heart-rending shrieks from her, and horrid oaths from him) came dripping to the floor” (5).

Content-Centered: Logos Appeal to logic Appeal to logic Logos is one’s reasonable argument, which forms from exigency (the pressing need to speak) with the audience and purpose in mind. Logos is one’s reasonable argument, which forms from exigency (the pressing need to speak) with the audience and purpose in mind. Ethos and Pathos are used to support logos. Ethos and Pathos are used to support logos.

Content-Centered: Ethos Appeal to common values Appeal to common values –Fundamental character or spirit of a culture –Dominant assumptions of a people Example: Example: –“I would sometimes say to them [the white boys who helped Douglass learn to read], I wish I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men. ‘You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?’ ” (23).

Content-Centered: Irony A contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens A contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens The general characteristic of irony is to make something understood by expressing its opposite The general characteristic of irony is to make something understood by expressing its opposite Irony is an intellectually demanding form of communication that requires interplay between the writer and reader. The ability to recognize and understand irony is considered part of the liberal, enlightened intellect. Irony is an intellectually demanding form of communication that requires interplay between the writer and reader. The ability to recognize and understand irony is considered part of the liberal, enlightened intellect.

Content-Centered: Irony 3 types of irony in literature: 3 types of irony in literature: –Verbal: a writer or speaker says one thing and means something entirely different –Dramatic: a reader or audience perceives something that a character in the story does not know –Situational: the writer shows a discrepancy between the expected results of some action or situation and its actual results

Form-Embedded: Alliteration Repetition of initial consonant sounds Repetition of initial consonant sounds Example: Example: –“I nerved myself up again, and started on my way, through bogs, brier, barefoot and bareheaded, tearing my feet sometimes at nearly every step…” (40).

Form-Embedded: Repetition Repeating of words and/or phrases throughout a passage or text Repeating of words and/or phrases throughout a passage or text Example: Example: –“Work, work, work, was scarcely more the order of the day than of the night” (37-38).

Form-Embedded: Parallelism Repetition of a grammatical pattern Repetition of a grammatical pattern –Used to emphasize and link related ideas –Adds balance, rhythm, and clarity to the sentence Example: Example: –“He [Covey] was always under every tree, behind every stump, in every bush, and at every window, on the plantation” (36).

Form-Embedded: Antithesis Establishes a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by joining them together or juxtaposing them, often in parallel structure Establishes a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by joining them together or juxtaposing them, often in parallel structure Example: Example: –“The longest days were too short for him and the shortest nights were too long for him” (38).

Form-Embedded: Apostrophe Interruption of the narrative to directly address the audience Interruption of the narrative to directly address the audience Example: Example: –“My thoughts would compel utterance; and there, with no audience but the Almighty, I would pour out my soul’s complaint, in my rude way, with an apostrophe to the moving multitude of ship: -- ‘You are loosed from your moorings, and are free…’ ” (38).

Form-Embedded: Allusion A brief (usually indirect) reference to a person, place, or event, or to another literary work or passage A brief (usually indirect) reference to a person, place, or event, or to another literary work or passage Example: Example: –“In coming to a fixed determination to run away, we did more than Patrick Henry, when he resolved upon liberty or death” (51). –Patrick Henry: “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” -from Speech in the Virginia Convention

Form-Embedded: Compare/Contrast To examine the similarities and differences between two (or more) people, places, objects, ideas, or situations. Often the similarities are established to set up and emphasize the differences. To examine the similarities and differences between two (or more) people, places, objects, ideas, or situations. Often the similarities are established to set up and emphasize the differences. Example: Example: –“I would sometimes say to them [the white boys who helped Douglass learn to read], I wish I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men. ‘You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?’ ” (23).

Form-Embedded: Analogy A comparison made between two things to show the similarities between them. Often a familiar idea or object is compared to an unfamiliar one to clarify the unfamiliar. A comparison made between two things to show the similarities between them. Often a familiar idea or object is compared to an unfamiliar one to clarify the unfamiliar. Example: Example: –“By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs” (1).

Form-Embedded: Figurative Language or Literary/Stylistic Devices Simile: a comparison between two different things using “like” or “as” Simile: a comparison between two different things using “like” or “as” Metaphor: a direct comparison between two unlike things. Unlike a simile or analogy, metaphor asserts that one thing is another thing. Metaphor: a direct comparison between two unlike things. Unlike a simile or analogy, metaphor asserts that one thing is another thing.

Form-Embedded: Figurative Language or Literary/Stylistic Devices Sensory details/imagery: images and details that emphasize or appeal to the five senses (touch, taste, sight, smell, sound) Sensory details/imagery: images and details that emphasize or appeal to the five senses (touch, taste, sight, smell, sound) Personification: the act of giving human qualities to a nonhuman thing. Personification: the act of giving human qualities to a nonhuman thing.

Form-Embedded: Figurative Language or Literary/Stylistic Devices Symbolism: any object, person, place or action that has a meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than itself Symbolism: any object, person, place or action that has a meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than itself

REVIEW Now that we know the names of many rhetorical devices, let’s revisit the excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech. Now that we know the names of many rhetorical devices, let’s revisit the excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech. Identify as many rhetorical devices as you can in the following two passages. Identify as many rhetorical devices as you can in the following two passages.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream. We will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last!”

This presentation was created by Michelle Lew and Eric Unti in close cooperation with Clare LePell and Kevin McKinney