A Rhetorical Analysis Of Milne's Essay

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This essay, though seeming a little weird at first, is sophistically written and brilliantly uses rhetorical strategies to hint at the personality and style of the author. Throughout the essay there are many examples that go undetected, but leaves one with subconscious thoughts of the author. The writer’s personality saturates this article as he uses a passionate tone, but uses words and phrases that suggest his introverted personality and desire to sound superior.

The author, in more ways than one, tries to sound superior to the audience, but ultimately fails. He uses advanced word choices, and at times they seem out of place. Milne will use words like “thou”, as if he is trying to imitate shakespeare or old writings. It breaks up the fluidity of the essay, and the words feel out of place in the informal writing …show more content…

Any time he talks about a person in the essay, he has nothing but negative things to say about him or her. However, when he talks about celery, he gives it nothing but praise. This tendency indicates that he is not comfortable or does not like being around people. Throughout the essay he gives off the aura that he does not like people, for example when he was in the inn a man walked in and Milne said “ we did not talk- I was busy with my celery”. He does not care to interact with people, but instead is more comfortable with inanimate things like celery or seasons. He almost uses celery and people as counterpoints, celery being good and people being bad. When he is talking to Keats, he focuses only on the fact that Keats made a mistake. He criticizes people and does not enjoy the presence of other people as much as he enjoys the celery. He dreams about the thought of good celery, but when he thinks about people he “ remembers to lock the door”. These activities indirectly characterize Milne as a very introverted and reserved

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