Rhetorical devices

1. Rhetorical devices The Rhetoric of Revolution – American Lit.

2. Independence • The U.S. won independence from British colonial rule because of effective writers and powerful speakers George Washington Patrick Henry Thomas Paine Thomas Jefferson

3. Persuasion: • Based on three types of appeal: 1. Logos- Appeal to reason, logic, and evidence 2. Pathos- appeal to emotions, such as fear, pride, or hate 3. Ethos- ethical appeal, or persuasion based on what we ourselves, moral philosophers, or the majority of the people in our culture think is right

4. Rhetorical devices: • Imagery- “word pictures” that writers create to evoke an emotional response “… would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock.” (Edwards) 2. Hyperbole- uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor “ The heart that feels not now is dead…” (Paine) “We are going to read thousands of books in this class.”

5. Rhetorical devices cont. 3. Rhetorical questions- questions that emphasize the obvious answer to what is asked “Do bears live in the woods?” “If practice makes perfect, and no one's perfect, then why practice?”

6. Rhetorical devices cont. 4. Parallelism- the use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form “Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produces additional violence and insult…” (Henry) “I have a dream…” (MLK Jr.’s speech)

7. Rhetorical devices cont. 5. Connotative language- intended to make an emotional and ethical appeal “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.” (Jefferson)