rhetoricians had classified oratory into three types: the epideictic, forensic or judicial and the deliberative. These can be distinguished according to the context of delivery. The epideictic rhetoric is delivered in ceremonial occasions; the ideal context of forensic oratory is in the court of law, the deliberative type is practised in electoral rallies or parliamentary meetings. Schiappa and Timmerman (1996:50) explained that prior to Aristotle, the word epideixis was intended to refer to a quality of discourse rather than a genre of discourse. However, Aristotle aspired to bring together three distinct types of oratory into one larger generic category: the encomium that is speeches of praise or blame, the panegyric that is the festival
When thinking of famous oration, one speech in literature is a classic example that contains persuasive techniques. The speech given by Marc Antony to mourn Caesar in Shakespeare’s work Julius Caesar has been referenced for ages as an example of a convincing argument. Everyone recalls the opening line, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears,” and all know what follows the speech – war leading to the establishment of the final triumvirate (Shakespeare 3.2.82). However, in praising Antony’s words, audiences tend to forget the other convincing orations that make appearances in Julius Caesar. Aristotle first described these in his discourse on types of rhetoric in Ancient Greece. They are pathos, logos, and ethos and all are found in the
Cicero believed that a good orator must do three things in his speech: earn the favor of the audience, provide persuasive arguments, and move the audience with emotional appeals. In his defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus one finds an excellent example of Cicero’s work and through close examination can glean some additional information about what Cicero felt was needed in a good speech. With such scrutiny it becomes readily apparent that each of the three objectives need not be attained equally. Because while Cicero does attempt to gain the favor of his audience, provide persuasive arguments, and presents the audience with powerful emotional appeals, he spends a vast amount of time providing the jury with “proofs” (persuasive arguments), a fair amount of time earning the good will of the audience, and only briefly extends emotional appeals towards the close of his speech. Cicero did this for a reason; he did this because it best fit the case being made against his client, the circumstances of the trial and seemed most likely to get him the acquittal he desired. If one peruses Cicero’s monologue, they can figure out why.
In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, he utilizes various literary devices to emphasize his many thematic topics. He demonstrates sin through the unholy nature of Abigail’s history with John Proctor with Abigail’s words, "I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I came near!" (Miller 21). He reveals the wrongness of the situation, and shows the desperation Abigail has for John to return her feelings. due to his marital status and her age through his simile describing John’s actions and reactions near Abigail as animalistic and dirty. Miller’s similes also demonstrates the idea of good vs. evil through his description of the Devil’s effect on several girls. “...
George Washington wrote a message to the American people and he named the document, Washington’s Farwell Address. George Washington started off his farewell by telling the people that the time has come to designate someone as president but that he would not be running for a third term. He goes on to explain in great detail why he would not be running for a third term as well as addressing what he believed the nation should follow. George Washington gave the people advice on how we could be a great nation but he also warned us about situations that would be the downfall of our great nation, but did we the people follow the advice he gave us in 1796.
De Oratore is text written in 55 BCE by Marcus Tullius Cicero. Using a key dialogue, Cicero is able to explain the role of an orator, as well as describe the ideal candidate for the role. De Oratore uses its text to claim that a speaker must be knowledgeable as well as virtuous in order to be a true orator, and gives further guidelines to being a good rhetorician. Cicero uses a dialogue between men he had known in his youth to make claims and expand upon the topic of orators. The text describes an argument over the ideal rhetor as well as the parallels between philosophy and rhetoric. The subjects of the dialogue make frequent references to past philosophers throughout their debate on the eloquence of speakers. De Oratore is a powerful text that ponders the role of rhetoric in the state in a complete manner through its dialectic presentation.
The primary function of rhetoric is to find the best means available for persuasion and as a result, they have been divided into three types. Epideictic rhetoric, deliberative rhetoric, and forensic rhetoric epideictic rhetoric are sometimes referred to as ceremonial oratory, and this is considered as a rhetoric that is used to blame or praise during ceremonies (Sheard, 1996). The rhetoric of ceremony, declamation, commemoration, play, entertainment and self-display is mostly utilized in festivals and formal events for instance anniversaries such as births, marriages or death.
The American renown orator, Patrick Henry, uses emotions to evoke hope and strength into the helpless colonists. Henry makes the colonists think of why should they not be independent. Why should people kneel and hope to have freedom instead of going and taking it. To be able to inspire the American colonies to unite and fight for their freedom takes question leading questions and the audacity to stir the pot just enough to play on how the colonists acting cowardly can result in them not having the God given right to liberty.
The King's Speech flaunted a number of light-minded therapies to assist Albert control stuttering. For example, to gain fluency, Albert was asked to sing while speaking, and in some cases, to dance and sing while speaking. Logue even had Albert swear, when ironically, he was more fluent when angered. To get Albert to become more relaxed, Logue had Albert to quit smoking cigarettes and do proper breathing patterns. To focus on his muscles, he made Albert read a book while blasting classical tunes and repeat tongue twisters. Although Logue did not dismiss the tools and methods, he wanted to go deeper than muscle therapy and relaxation. The King’s voice had not been heard and Logue's mission was to listen to that unheard voice and to give it possibilities
Before watching “The Persuaders”, I never realized the cyclical process that advertisers go through to keep consumers interested and focused on their products. The constant pressure that these persuaders face often causes them to outsource for help from experts that know what works and what doesn’t. This means that advertising agencies are constantly being hired and fired, making this a fast-paced, ever-changing industry.
The Shakespearean play Julius Caesar, tells the behind the scenes story of the conspirators plan to kill the influential ruler, Caesar. In the play Caesar makes a speech referring to himself and describes his method of ruling Rome while comparing himself to the North Star. Prior to the speech the conspirators have come to the Senate to convince Caesar to forgive and restore Cimber after his banishment. But Caesar responds with this speech about him being persistent about his decisions. The speech that Caesar makes about himself can be considered an Epideictic or a Forensic speech, for the reason that he commends himself while creating an opinion of his past actions. This excerpt from the play leads up to the devious conspirators plan unfolding and the upsetting death of Caesar. Rhetoric is used throughout the speech in order to manipulate and convey how invincible Caesar is as well as express the overall theme of the play, be means of delivery, disposition, and style.
Rhetoric in the article by William Covino and David Jolliffe is explained as an art of persuasion that uses communication with a purpose or goal. To add, it is an ongoing conversation between the rhetor and the auditors. In addition to using persuasion, the observance of the audience is used as well. In the article by William Covino and David Jolliffe they talk about the four major elements of rhetoric: the rhetorical situation, the audience, the methods of persuasion, and the 5 canons. As explained in the reading the purpose of rhetorical communication is to teach, to please, and to move.
Aristotle. On Rhetoric. The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings from Classical Times to the Present. 2nd ed. Ed. Trans. Patricia Bizzell & Bruce Herzberg. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2001. Book I, Chapter V. Print.
In Plato’s Gorgias, Socrates discusses the nature and uses of rhetoric with Gorgias, while raising moral and philosophical perspective of rhetoric. Socrates believes that rhetoric is a kind of false knowledge whose purpose is to produce conviction, and not to educate people about the true extent of knowledge (Plato 15). On the other hand, Gorgias argues that the study of rhetoric is essential in any other professional fields, in order to provide an effective communication (Plato 19). After their discussion of rhetoric, Socrates seems to understand the true extent of rhetoric better as compared to Gorgias, as he is able to use rhetoric appeals as a device to dominate the conversation. During their discussion, Socrates seems to have use rhetorical appeals, such as ethos appeal and pathos appeal to connect and convince the crowd of audiences, and logos appeal to support his claims. His speeches seems to have shown sarcastic aspects and constantly asking questions in order to keep Gorgias busy, at the same time preparing an ambush. Since rhetoric is the art of effective communication through the form of speaking and writing, with the appropriate knowledge and virtue, it can be used for good purposes. On the other hand, rhetoric also can be used as an act of conviction because rhetorical appeals can be defined as an act of persuasion as well. Learning the true extent of rhetoric can help an individual strengthen their verbal communication skills. Socrates uses rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos and logos appeal to win his argument against Gorgias, as he is able to get the audiences’ attention through rhetoric and cornered Gorgias into revealing the true extent of rhetoric.
The speech made by Marcus Antonius, called Antony, in Act Three, Scene Two of Julius Caesar shows that despite being considered a sportsman above all else, he is highly skilled with the art of oratory as well. In the play by William Shakespeare, this speech is made at the funeral of Caesar after he is killed by Brutus and the other conspirators. Brutus claimed earlier, in his own funeral speech, that the killing of Caesar was justified. He felt that Caesar was a threat, and too ambitious to be allowed as ruler. Much of this sentiment, however, was developed by the treacherous Cassius. Antony, on the other hand, felt that the conspirators were traitors to Rome and should be dealt with. This speech used a variety of methods to gradually bring the crowd to his side, yet maintain his side of the deal with Brutus. This deal was that he, “shall not in your funeral speech blame us...” (3.1.245) for the death of Caesar. Antony holds his end of the deal for the majority of the speech, yet by doing so convinces the crowd of Brutus' and the others' disloyalty. In many ways, this speech can be seen as the ultimate rhetoric, and it includes all three of Aristotle's methods of persuasion. This are the appeal to credibility, called ethos, the appeal to emotions, called pathos, and the appeal to logic, called logos. All three of these devices are used to great effect during the speech of Marcus Antonius.
Sophists are people who are considered to be orators and public speakers but their arguments about something is convincing to the crowd even though it is false. They are be good at speeches and manage to argue out their points regardless of whether they are wrong or right and they mostly engage in public speaking contests and debates and major aim in all is winning. They have mastered the art of rhetoric in order to persuade people and for them not to discover the truth (Crome, 2004).