TE - Rhetoric Lesson

 

Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the use of language to communicate effectively. Politicians, advertisements, and persuasive essays all use rhetoric to help get their point across. Rhetoric involves three audience appeals: ethos (the character or disposition of a person, community, etc), pathos (the power to evoke emotion, pity, or compassion), logos (rational and logical thought and appeal). 

When you begin to examine the rhetoric of a piece of writing, you will look for the following: ethos, pathos, logos, repetition, parallelism, figurative language, analogies, and rhetorical questions. It is also important to examine the diction and tone of a piece. Ask yourself these questions: Why is it important that the writer used repetition? How does parallelism help to get his/her point across? How are rhetorical questions persuasive? How does the word choice help to get the point across? What is the tone of the piece? Once you begin to analyze a piece of writing, you will better understand the speech or document. You will also understand why the piece was so effective and persuasive. Keep in mind that rhetoric is not limited to these examples. 

Let's look at a famous speech given by Queen Elizabeth:

Queen Elizabeth I's Speech to the Troops at Tilbury, 1588

My loving people,

We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonor shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.

Go through the speech and identify examples of rhetoric. Complete the following self-assessment to help you analyze the rhetoric in the speech.

 

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