Rhetorical Devices Used by Speakers and Writers Rhetorical devices are the nuts and bolts of speech and writing; the parts that make a communication work. Separately, each part of is meaningless, but once put together they create a powerful effect on the listener/reader. Let’s remember these strategies with the acronym FARV PUT

Figurative Language People like to think in metaphors. Figurative speech tends to work best when set off by concrete images. “turned my life into one long night seven times sealed.” “those flames that consumed my faith forever” “turned my dreams to ashes”

Allusion By using allusion, you not only associate yourself with the ideas of the original text but also create a bond with the audience by evoking shared knowledge –“seven times sealed” refers to the Jewish belief that seven is a number of completion: 7 days in a week, 7 blessings recited at weddings, 1 st verse of Torah has 7 words, Egyptian plagues were 7 days, and more. –This passage has 7 sentences that start “Never shall I forget…”

Repetition Repetition can be effective in creating a sense of structure and power. In both speech and literature, repeating small phrases can ingrain an idea in the minds of the audience. Never shall I forget…

Varied Sentence Length Varying the sentence length is always a good way to strengthen any writing style, be it speech writing or essays. Some of the sentences in this section are 2 lines long, but we also have the short sentences, “Never shall I forget that smoke,” and “Never.”

Stop. F = Figurative Language A = Allusion (referring to something famous) R = Repetition V = Vary sentence length

Parallelism Writing structures that are grammatically parallel helps the reader understand the points better because they flow more smoothly. p.83: “The last night in Buna, the last night in the ghetto, the last night in the cattle car, and, now, the last night in Buna.”

Unanswered Question A common technique is to utilize rhetorical questions, in which the speaker asks a question without expecting the audience to answer. Sometimes, the speaker answers the question him/herself. p.81: “Were the SS really going to leave hundreds of prisoners behind in the infirmaries, pending the arrival of their liberators? Were they really going to allow Jews to hear the clock strike twelve? Of course not.”

Tricolon A tricolon is a list of three, or a sentence in which there are three parts or clauses. The cumulative effect of three has a powerful effect on an audience. –p.86 “Don’t think, don’t stop, run!” –p.87 “We had transcended everything – death, fatigue, our natural needs.”

Rhetorical & Persuasive Appeals Ethos—appeal to ethics; asks the reader/listener to look favorably on the writer/speaker; stresses the writer/speaker’s intelligence, competence, fairness, morality, and other qualities desirable in a trustworthy leader. --“We shall see the day of liberation. Have faith in life, a thousand times faith…We are all brothers and share the same fate. The same smoke hovers over all our heads…” (guard in Auschwitz using ethos) p. 41

Rhetorical & Persuasive Appeals Logos—rational appeal; asks the readers to use their intellects and powers of reasoning. It relies on established conventions of logic and evidence. -- “The first three days went by quickly. On the fourth day, as we stood in front of our tent, the Kapos appeared. Each one began to choose the men he liked.” -- “We received no food. We lived on snow; it took the place of bread.” -- “At the entrance to the camp, SS officers were waiting for us. We were counted. Then we were directed to the Appleplatz.” -- “I remained in Buchenwald until April 11.”

Rhetorical & Persuasive Appeals Pathos—an emotional appeal; asks readers to respond out of their beliefs, values, or feelings. It inspires, affirms, frightens, angers. “Her little boy was crying, clinging to her skin, trying to hold her hand.” p.25 “The SS made us increase our pace. “Faster, you tramps, you flea-ridden dogs…Faster, you filthy dogs!”