What is Rhetoric?

Rhetoric

Speaking or writing that’s intended to persuade is known as Rhetoric. If we intend to write editorial columns, or while forming points for a debate or an argumentative essay, we should work on our rhetoric.

The word “ Rhetoric“ has a Greek origin which means “speaker” which is used for the art of persuasive speaking or writing. While listening eagerly to long speeches & while studied them in school, rhetoric was used by people in a positive sense; now it is often seen as a negative term, that implies artfulness over real content. For instance, if a person gives a clever speech but doesn’t mention the problem that needs to be addressed, one can say, “That’s just a lot of rhetoric.”

What is Rhetoric?

In order to persuade, motivate, or inform the reader or listener about the position of the speaker or writer, rhetoric is the language which is used. 

We might be familiar with the concept of a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question is a question which is often asked to an audience in an effort to get the audience think seriously about a question & its implications. The speaker or writer doesn’t usually expect answers to the question; the goal is to have a discussion. 

Examples of Rhetorical Questions: 

Are you doing the right thing?
What is this, a prank?
Can you believe that?

Rhetoric means the art of persuading, along with grammar & logic. It studies the techniques writers / speakers use in order to inform, persuade, or motivate audience in certain situations.

Rhetoric in Literature

• The ideas of the author to the reading audience are conveyed by the rhetoric in literature . It is used in literature, the same way as it is in political speeches, to present the ideas of the author in a persuasive way. 

          The argument put forth by a piece of writing is presented using rhetorical techniques, overall style or voice. 

Rhetorical techniques are used by authors like allegory, metaphor & oxymoron to persuasively convey their opinion on a subject. This helps authors to create an emotional response in the reading audience.

• Rhetors convey their opinions & arguments as effectively as they can. For instance, George Orwell in Nineteen Eighty-Four , which is a story, in one sense, but the underlying argument is about totalitarianism & its dangers. He uses rhetorical techniques like irony to convey the brainwashing methods used by the dystopian society, for example, the Ministry of Love which is the center for torture.

The use of rhetoric in literature is concerned with the distinction between logic & language. Rhetors are mainly concerned with how the logical the content of their arguments can be presented linguistically in order to a profound effect on the audience. 

Authors presenting an argument in the form of a scene or story have to consider the ways in which language can be used to convey it.

Why is Rhetoric Important?

• Rhetoric is essential as it provides a framework for critical thinking. It demonstrates thought processes that a writer & speaker has. Through this, it illustrates the strengths of the arguments’.
• To understand rhetoric, we need to know the concept of heuristics which is a practical approach to problem-solving or self-discovery. Example of heuristics:  Drawing a diagram to work out a mathematical problem.
• Heuristics role in rhetoric is important because speakers & writers often use them to illustrate the points they’re making. 

Types of Rhetoric

1. LOGOS is language used to appeal logic & reasoning. When one appeals to logos in an argument, one support his/her position with facts & data.  
Example:- When the cookie jar was raided, none of the kids were home, so the cookie thief couldn’t have been one of them. 

2. ETHOS is a language whose credibility comes from the speaker’s authority which comes from their credentials.                                     Example:- A car accident witness describing the collision they witnesses. 

3. PATHOS is language used to create an emotional connection with the reader or listener. It tries to persuade, motivate, or inform the audience by making them empathize with the speaker.  
Example:- Please make donations for the animal shelter. We need funding to help our animals & every penny counts.

Rhetorical Devices

A rhetorical device is a technique or word construction that is used by a speaker or writer to win an audience to their side, while trying to persuade them to do something.

1. Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement conveying emotions. Eg:- The glass exploded into many pieces.

2. Meiosis  uses euphemism to minimize the importance of something. Eg:- We must put an end to this peculiar organization.

3. Apostrophe means repetition of a word via successive phrases, clauses, or sentences for the purpose of emphasizing it as a concept. Eg:- Abraham Lincoln’s famous saying, ” government of the people, by the people & for the people.”

4. Metaphor is a comparison in which something is said to be figuratively something else. Eg:- She was a wolf among the sheep.

5. Chiasmus  is reversal of the grammatical order in two parallel sentences or phrases. Eg: Car owners own cars & bikes own bike owners.

Rhetorical Traditions

Rhetorical traditions are about how people throughout history conceived the nature, scope & function of rhetoric: the theory, practice, and critique of rhetoric has been related with, constrained & impacts people’s views about the government, citizenship etc.

Examples of Rhetoric in English

Examples of how rhetoric is used with the help of various literary devices:

• How did this maniac get elected? – A rhetorical question here tries to convince others that the “maniac” does not deserve to be elected.
• I would die if you asked me to sing in front of my family. – Hyperbole is used to persuade others not to use force to let you do something you don’t wish to.
  

Conclusion- 

The steps involved in a rhetorical analysis conclusion are as follows:

1. Summing-up what was accomplished in the text analyzed. For eg, persuading readers to accept or believe in a particular idea.

2. Summarize how the goals were realized in the work. For instance, how did the writer use evidence-based arguments while making a point with an evocative personal story or anecdote? Incase the analysis failed to achieve the intended goals, find the reasons. What could be done to make it effective?

3. Indicate why the rhetorical objective & method(s) are important. For example, how your view has changed because of a particular technique used by the author. Focusing on why a particular technique has been used by the author. One can refer to the rhetorical analysis conclusion example & find why a particular technique was used for the targeted audience.

While writing the concluding section, it is essential that the arguments presented by the author presents are put into relevant context. The best rhetorical analysis conclusion would be the one that shows the argument(s) analyzed perfectly to present a theme essential for the text.

Frequently Asked Questions on Rhetoric

Que 1. What is Rhetoric?

Ans. Rhetoric means the art of persuading, along with grammar & logic. It studies the techniques writers / speakers use in order to inform, persuade, or motivate audience in certain situations.

Que 2. What are the Elements of Rhetoric?

Ans. Rhetorical situation means identifying the relationship among elements of communication like the –

• audience, 
• author (rhetor), 
• purpose, 
• medium,
• context &
• content .

Que 3. What is an example of Rhetoric?

Ans. Use of rhetoric can be seen in almost every field of employment, be it communicating professionally with colleagues & customers or writing reports. Below are a few examples of situations where rhetoric has been used to achieve a goal.

a) Since ancient times, the idea of rhetoric has been connected with politics. In a democratic society, it’s crucial for politicians to send timely messages for a deep understanding of the wants of the audience which further helps to advance their goal of being elected. As a citizen, if we analyze the rhetorical situation & appeals being used in political discourse can help one know the real intentions of the speaker & whether one chooses to ascribe to their argument.

Senator Obama in his ‘Red & Blue’ speech during the 2004 Democratic Convention, understood the rhetorical situation; & seized a rhetorical moment , his powers of persuasion (logos, ethos & pathos) & gave a compelling speech. Obama used rhetoric in order to persuade his audience to think in a certain way. Many historians are of the view that this began his ascent to the presidency.”

b) Job interviews

While preparing for a job interview, one is essentially making an argument to the potential employer about why s/he is suitable for the job. It’s crucial to know the genre, context, audience, exigency & purpose.

The rhetorical situation is the company one wants to work for, the audience is the supervisor, & as the rhetor one knows this is a formal situation, so one needs to dress up in a suit.

Que 4. What are some Rhetorical Devices?

• Hyperbole
• Meiosis
• Apostrophe
• Metaphor
• Chiasmus