Rhetoric

Understanding Rhetoric

• Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing aimed at influencing the audience.

• Rhetoric employs various techniques and strategies to communicate its message effectively.

• Commonly used rhetorical strategies include the use of metaphors, repetition, rhetorical questions, emotive language, and analogies.

Identifying Rhetoric

• Rhetorical devices are designed to make the text more persuasive or impactful. For example, “freedom is a bird” is a metaphor that substitutes one idea (freedom) with another (bird).

• Repeated phrases or words are used to emphasize a point, create a rhythm, and make text memorable.

• A rhetorical question is a question asked for effect, where the answer is either obvious or not expected. For instance, “Who do they think they are?” is asked for its persuasive impact rather than expecting a response.

Analysing Rhetoric

• Look for the purpose of the rhetoric in the text. Is it used to persuade the reader, provoke thought, stir emotions, or inspire action?

• Think about how rhetorical devices shape the reader’s understanding of the text’s tone or mood.

• Consider how the use of rhetoric helps in emphasising certain points.

Impact of Rhetoric

• By strategically using rhetoric, writers can publish their points in a more compelling and memorable way.

• Rhetoric engages the reader’s emotions, impacting how they perceive the message and their response to it.

• Thoroughly understanding and examining an author’s use of rhetoric can help deepen your understanding of the text and enhance your ability to analyse it effectively.

Take the time to dig into the text, focusing on how the author employs rhetorical devices and why. Become familiar with the most common rhetorical devices and practise identifying and analysing them in the texts you come across. This will certainly enhance your reading and analytical skills.