Standard
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Standard DescriptionDetermine author's point of view and use of rhetoric.
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About Rhetorics
A rhetoric is a technique of using language effectivly in spoken or written form.
For example, a person gets on your nerves, you start feeling irritated, so you might say, “Why don’t you leave me alone?” By asking this kind a question, you do not ask for a reason. Instead, you simply want him to stop irritating you. You direct language in a particular way for effective communication or make use of rhetoric. A situation where you make use of rhetoric is called a “rhetorical situation”.
Rhetorical figures or devices are used to achieve particular emphasis or effect. They are different from figures of speech. They share many of the same ideas and features. A figure of speech becomes a device in rhetoric when it is aimed at persuading the readers or listeners.
Some examples of rhetorical sentences:
For example, a person gets on your nerves, you start feeling irritated, so you might say, “Why don’t you leave me alone?” By asking this kind a question, you do not ask for a reason. Instead, you simply want him to stop irritating you. You direct language in a particular way for effective communication or make use of rhetoric. A situation where you make use of rhetoric is called a “rhetorical situation”.
Rhetorical figures or devices are used to achieve particular emphasis or effect. They are different from figures of speech. They share many of the same ideas and features. A figure of speech becomes a device in rhetoric when it is aimed at persuading the readers or listeners.
Some examples of rhetorical sentences:
- How did this idiot get elected? – A rhetorical question to convince others that the “idiot” does not deserve to be elected.
- Here comes the Helen of our school. – An allusion to “Helen of Troy” to emphasize the beauty of a girl.
- I would die if you asked me to sing in front of my parents – A hyperbole to persuade others not to use force to make you do something which you don’t want to do.
- All blonde-haired people are dumb. – Using a stereotype to develop a general opinion about a group.
Examples in literacy:
John Milton’s Paradise Lost example from Book V:
“advise him of his happy state--
Happiness in his power left free to will,
Left to his own free will, his will though free
Yet mutable”
The repetition of the phrase “free will” emphasizes the theme of human creation which is making free choices, but the phrase “yet mutable” creates ambiguity that, despite being free, Adam had to be careful, as a wrong act could make him lose his freedom.
John Donne Death, be not Proud (Holy Sonnet 10)
"Thou ‘art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy ‘or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?"
The rhetorical question “why swell’st thou then?” serves to play down the horrific nature of death. He devalues death by calling it a “slave”, and that it keeps the despicable company of “poison, war, sickness” and seeks their support.
Walt Whitman's poem Crossing Brooklyn Ferry uses anaphora:
"Flood-tide below me! I watch you, face to face;
Clouds of the west! sun there half an hour high! I see you also face to face."
Anaphora is a device where the same word or phrase is repeated at regular intervals to achieve a rhetorical effect.
- Example 1:
John Milton’s Paradise Lost example from Book V:
“advise him of his happy state--
Happiness in his power left free to will,
Left to his own free will, his will though free
Yet mutable”
The repetition of the phrase “free will” emphasizes the theme of human creation which is making free choices, but the phrase “yet mutable” creates ambiguity that, despite being free, Adam had to be careful, as a wrong act could make him lose his freedom.
- Example 2:
John Donne Death, be not Proud (Holy Sonnet 10)
"Thou ‘art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy ‘or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?"
The rhetorical question “why swell’st thou then?” serves to play down the horrific nature of death. He devalues death by calling it a “slave”, and that it keeps the despicable company of “poison, war, sickness” and seeks their support.
- Example 3:
Walt Whitman's poem Crossing Brooklyn Ferry uses anaphora:
"Flood-tide below me! I watch you, face to face;
Clouds of the west! sun there half an hour high! I see you also face to face."
Anaphora is a device where the same word or phrase is repeated at regular intervals to achieve a rhetorical effect.
Rhetoric is a tool for writers and orators which empowers them to convince their readers and listeners about their point of view. A hyperbole is an exaggerated statement used as a figure of speech for rhetorical effect.
project idea for avalon students...
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QuizPress click here to go to the quiz. Copy and paste the questions onto a google doc and share with your advisor.
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