Rhetorical questions
In his expository text, “Blink”, Malcom Gladwell uses rhetorical questions to get the reader interested in the content of the book. This trend begins in the introduction where Gladwell introduces the idea that the subconscious mind has extraordinary abilities that people do not know about. After the Getty museum was asked to buy a Greek Kouro statue that was in almost perfect condition. The Getty performed an investigation to determine whether the Kouro was a forgery or not. When introducing this event, Gladwell asks the reader, “Was the statue consistent with other known kouroi?”(Gladwell 2), and “Where and When had the statue been found?” (Gladwell 4). While Gladwell obviously does not expect the reader to answer
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For example, when introducing the topic of the book, Gladwell talks about the intricacies of how the human thinks and how “the mind operates most efficiently by relegating a good deal of high-level, sophisticated thinking to the unconscious, just as a modern jetliner is able to fly on automatic pilot with little or no input from the human, ‘conscious’ pilot” (Gladwell 12). Gladwell begins his book by ensuring that the readers understand how powerful the human unconscious is. Gladwell relates the mind, a topic that most people are not familiar with, to automatic piloting on planes, a topic that most people are familiar with or know of. By relating our brains unconscious to the autopilot of a jet, the reader is able to understand the theme quickly at the beginning of the book, which allows Gladwell to jump into more complex examples faster than he would have been able to without the use of the simile. Another example of Gladwell using simile to help the reader understand ideas central to explanations of the theme is his description of two food tasters. He describes two food tasters that have the ability to determine what ingredients have been added or omitted from a recipe just by tasting the food. He then describes how they are able to use their subconscious to make that determination. Gladwell describes eating with them as “like going cello shopping with Yo-Yo-Ma” (Gladwell 178). Gladwell’s use of simile makes the whole situation easier for the reader to understand. Most readers do not have intricate knowledge of the abilities of food tasters, so comparing the food tasters that Gladwell describes to Yo-Yo-Ma, a highly talented musician, allows the reader to see the level of skill that the food tasters have. Understanding the food tasters expertise makes it easier for the reader to
Through the use of recorded patterns Gladwell makes the belief of, more or less, seven errors on a plane will result in a crash. Gladwell embraces repetition to present the problem of pilots not communicating consequently making errors of flying a plane “and then another and another and another and another” using this rhetorical structure he presents the number of small errors that have happened that lead to a crash (Gladwell,184). He emphasizes the extent of problems on the plane to create an image of chaos on the plane. The use of anaphora created a feeling of anxiousness as the problem could’ve been prevented “one pilot knows something …one pilot does something wrong” with all the problems that have occurred and the pilot and co-pilot not
Throughout the entire novel, the author’s use of literary devices is very clear. These literary devices, specifically similes and personification, help the reader get a better idea of the exact sounds and feelings which will allow them to know what it feels like to be there in that moment. “ I stood there, trying to think of a comeback, when suddenly, I heard a whooshing sound, like the sound you get when you open a vacuum-sealed can of peanuts. Then the brown water that had puddled up all over the field began to move. It began to run toward the back portables, like someone pulled the plug out of a giant bathtub.
This simile makes Lamott feel more relatable to the reader because this is a feeling that most inexperienced and discouraged writers go through. Saying things like “feel despair and worry settle on my chest like an x-ray apron” only connects the reader to Lamott even more (Lamott 469). Once the reader becomes engaged and forms a connection with what the writer is saying and feeling, continuing to read the essay is easy. At this point the reader wants to know what can be done to shake the feelings of “despair and worry” when it comes to
While they do this they give the reader different depictions about food which is what will be analyzed. The first depiction is rather broad and it is life. The first dish which is
In “Small Change: Revolution Not be Tweeted” by Malcolm Gladwell , Gladwell explains his own thoughts on why even in the age of technology social media will never be the strongest way to display activism. Throughout the article the author highlights what he feels makes activism work and what he feels may not work. He thoroughly explains his reasoning for his opinions by using rhetorical strategies. For example, he notes that for a cause to be effective the people pursuing it must have a strong tie or a strong connection to it. This can tie/connection can come from experiencing the problem first hand or having multiple friends or family already involved in the cause.
He makes great use of simile and metaphor in this book. For example, when he is talking about being so close up to a dramatic game he says “It was one of those moments when Brian felt as if baseball was close enough for him to reach out and touch. Like his hands were around the handle of a
Ray Bradbury decides to use a decent amount of metaphors in The Veldt. For example a metaphor he uses in the story is, this bake oven with murder in the heat. The metaphor is helping the reader by Ray showing an example of comparing two things without like or as. In particular another metaphor would be, it seemed that at a distance for the past month, he had heard the lions roaring, and smelled their strong odor. Ray Bradbury uses metaphors very carefully in this story.
He used simile because he uses the word like to relate the mosquitos to the tiny, bloodsucking men. Edward Bloor also uses flashbacks as a way to give us insight on what happened before the family moved to Tangerine that have been effective to the plot. For example, (page 167-168) “Dad was saying, “OK, Erik. Pretend that Paul is in the center of an imaginary clock, and that I am standing here at twelve o’clock position, right behind him. Good.
In a future totalitarian society, all books have been outlawed by the government, fearing an independent-thinking public. Fahrenheit 451 is a futuristic novel, telling the story of a time where books and independent thinking are outlawed. In a time so unenlightened, where those who want to better themselves by thinking, are outlawed and killed. Guy Montag is a senior firefighter who is much respected by his superiors and is in line for a promotion. He does not question what he does or why he does it until he meets Clarisse.
This demonstrates how this quote is making the event more suspenseful and it sets the mood for the whole book, that as medical systems try to help and prevent the virus from reaching them, they in some cases make it worse. Finally, similes are used to establish the mood of the book and to make the event more suspenseful and mysterious. Foreshadowing and similes are used in The Hot Zone to create and establish the overall mood of the book and to make events that are happening suspenseful and mysterious. Richard Preston also uses other figurative language such as metaphors, allusions, personification,
In addition, Kevin Young uses a heavy dose of similes. These similes provoke images that are intended to describe the setting, mood, or tone. Lastly, Young has adopted a couplet or triplet style of writing. All these ways has given Kevin Young a unique modus operandi that’s highly relatable and enjoyable to read.
Writers do their job because they want to express their ideas to make an impact on the readers. Sometimes they want to convince their audience through persuasion. They can do it using different rhetorical elements such as logos, ethos, and pathos. These are Greek words that mean logic, character, and emotion consecutively.
Rhetorical Analysis The speech that was delivered by William Wallace in the movie Braveheart, was meant to persuade the soldiers to fight for their freedom even though they were grossly out-numbered by the English. In the early 13th century the Scottish and the English were fighting in the First Wars of Independence. This was the result of the death of King Alexander III in 1286, when he left no heir to the throne. King Edward I of England was successful in conquering this land an was trying to rid Scotland of their clans.
Pushing to Read Nathaniel Hawthorne. Harper Lee. F. Scott Fitzgerald. All of these people are genius literary writers who have written text that many people of different ages are familiar with. However, the familiarity of these works have been declining, because the American population is losing interest in classic literature quickly.
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway takes place in the 1920s in Paris. The novel starts out focusing on Robert Cohn, while the rest of it is narrated by Jake. He is an expatriate, is madly in love with Brett, and has a war injury. Jake Barnes was raised Catholic and has had an on-again-off-again fling with Brett. He talks about Brett and his religion differently than how he thinks about them.