Rhetoric and Irony

1. Rhetoric and Irony To persuade, say one thing… mean another

2. Aristotle • Aristotle, an ancient Greek, was the father of rhetoric, the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques. 27

3. Aristotle Again • Aristotle discussed how to argue suitably for the occasion, how to recognize the topics relevant for particular audiences, and how to adjust the speech to the audience’s needs, knowledge, and desires. • He discussed how authors could specifically use wit and irony to pretend to make one point while actually making another. (Graban [2008] 401) 27

4. Hyperbole • Hyperbole (hyper bo lee) is intentional exaggeration or overstating, often for dramatic or humorous effect: • Can be considered verbal irony because what is said is more dramatic than what is meant Your predicament saddens me so much that I feel a veritable flood of tears coming on:

5. Understatement • The intentional understatement is used for effect also: “Thank you for this Pulitzer Prize: I am pleased.” • Can be considered verbal irony because what is said is less dramatic than what is meant • Another kind of understatement called Litotes occurs when a negative is used to state a positive: “When I won the Pulitzer Prize, I was not unhappy.”

6. Diction • Authors can use certain kinds of diction (word choice) to sound like those they wish to mock. • Use scientific or mathematic diction to mock lack of humanity • Use formal diction to mock propriety • Use political diction to mock bureaucracy