ipl-logo

How Does Mark Twain Use Ethos Pathos And Logos In The Damned Human Race

761 Words4 Pages

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, suggest anacondas, cats and squirrels have a mutual trait. That mankind has descended from these animals, contrary to the popular Darwinian Theory that humans are the most evolved animal species. Twain opposes Darwinism with effective pathos and logos, while comparing human and animal nature, and classifying mankind as the lowest creature of all. Twain claims; indecency, vulgarity and obscenity are qualities associated with the useless moral sense existing sole in mankind. Therefore, human’s cruel qualities and erratic behavior are inferior to animal species, which is exactly what Mark Twain defends in the sarcastic evaluation of humanity named, “The Damned Human Race.” With-in Mark Twain’s writing it’s clear he is trying to …show more content…

Twain said, “I have not guessed or speculated or conjectured, but have used what is com¬monly called the scientific method…experiments were made in the London Zoological Gardens, and covered many months of painstaking and fatiguing work.” (Twain 1) This paragraph is a great example of Twains use of logos. Twain tries to bluff the reader by presenting himself as a scientist to strengthen the logic and reasoning of his essay. His arguments are built on a metaphorical foundation, if read literally this style could cause him to lose credibility quickly with his audiences. However, Twains use of mockery, fraudulent authority and hasty generalizations with-in his essay lends to an overall successful delivery. His use of logos, by means of sarcasm, are very effective in causing the reader to see his perspective. Twain discuss a squirrel gathering his winters supply of food, and how the squirrel only gathers what he needs to survive the season. By comparing the squirrels to mankind’s endless lust for materials, Twain use of logos is able to shame people into believing they are not equal with the squirrel in this

Show More
Related

What Techniques Does Mccullough Use To Create His Satire Analysis

538 Words | 3 Pages

And I don’t disagree. So that makes 6.8 billion examples of perfection, 6.8 billion sparks of Zeus. You see, if everyone is special, then no one is." 5. How effectively do the techniques used communicate Twain’s position?

Read More

Buchanan Ethos Pathos And Logos

525 Words | 3 Pages

Patrick J. Buchanan argues that a nation based on democracy, diversity and equality will be unlikely to thrive. America has continued to challenge different beliefs and values, which is why he believes we are going to tear this nation to the ground. Buchanan is definitely against diversity in America almost to where he believes it’s almost a myth. “It is a revolution in thought and belief about who we are as a nation. ”(Buchanan 596)

Read More

Deception And Deception In Mark Twain's Pudd Nhead Wilson

881 Words | 4 Pages

Following the conclusion of Pudd’nhead Wilson, a novel written by Mark Twain in 1894, but taking place in the 1850s, it is obvious that the book was inundated by a myriad of differing themes. However, there is a theme that stands out the most in terms of the most influential message conveyed by Twain. This theme is that deception and foolishness, two themes that go hand in hand, do not have preferable repercussions. In recognizing these themes, I was able to choose one specific scene from the novel that truly represents these two themes. The scene that most symbolizes the backfiring of deception and the disadvantages of foolishness is in the scene where Tom gets sold down the river.

Read More

Nature And Nurture In Mark Twain's Pudd Nhead Wilson

536 Words | 3 Pages

Money and fine clothes could not mend the defects or cover them up; they only made hem more glaring and more pathetic.” (136)Even though he was a “white man”, he still acted as a slave. Twain is proving that the nurture, or family that someone is raised by shapes their true

Read More

Fenimore Coopers Rhetorical Analysis

429 Words | 2 Pages

Mark Twain, an 18th century humorist, was known for his critical and satirical writing. In one of his most famous essays, “ Fenimore Coopers Literary Offenses” Twain addresses Coopers inability to realistically develop a “situation” and his failure to effectively back up his stories in order for them to be more plausible. To dramatically convey his unimpressed and sarcastic attitude, he applies biting diction, metaphors and hypophora throughout this work . By continuously using biting diction, Twain develops a mocking tone towards Fenimore Cooper’s incapability to create even the simplest of storylines. In the title of the work a sarcastic tone is evident; the word choice is utilized to reinforce the argument stating how Coopers work is an offense to the world of literature.

Read More

Satire In A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court

471 Words | 2 Pages

Many a time I had seen a couple of boys, strangers, meet by chance, and say simultaneously, “I can lick you,” and go at it on the spot; but I always had imagined until now that that sort of thing belonged to children only, and was a sign and mark of childhood; but here were these big boobies sticking to it and taking pride in it clear up into full age and beyond. (23) The type of action that the people were engaging in was childish, and in the Yankee’s eyes, it had to be only the young doing it. To conclude, in order to get satiric effect, Mark Twain uses three tools of satire; exaggeration, parody, and

Read More

Symbolism In Mark Twain's Pudd Nhead Wilson

1335 Words | 6 Pages

Pudd’nhead Wilson was a novel written by Mark Twain and published in 1894. In this story, a mother bound by slavery switches her son with her owner’s son so he does not have to go through what she has gone through. This story is not only that of a basic story line, but a story filled with symbolism. I believe that Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson is a story of nature vs. nurture, betrayal, females and femininity, race, identity and courage. Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel L. Clemens, grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which was the inspiration of most of his books.

Read More

Imagery In Mark Twain's Life On The Mississippi

659 Words | 3 Pages

For instance, “That slanting mark on the water refers to a bluff reef which is going to kill somebody’s steamboat one of these nights, if it keeps on stretching out like that; those tumbling ‘boils’ show a dissolving bar and a changing channel there…that tall dead tree, with a single living branch, is not going to last long, and then how is a body ever going to get through this blind place at night without the friendly old landmark?” (44-51). Here, the reader is able to comprehend that by contemplating about the negative aspects of the river and how it would result in certain obstacles for a pilot of a steamboat, Twains initial view of the Mississippi River was ultimately diminished. Therefore, the author contemplates whether possessing knowledge about the beauty of an aspect and its true connotation truly belittles it compared to only seeing its beauty without thinking. Likewise, Twain contemplates the position of doctors relating their possible viewpoints towards a patient with his circumstances.

Read More

Injurality Of Humanity In Mark Twain's The Lowest Animal

1013 Words | 5 Pages

Although most individuals have a sense of human kindness, man inflicts cruelty and offensive behavior therefore, Mark Twain is correct in his statement. From a human’s perspective we are able to categorize a person as kind or cruel by the actions which they show, how they are seen, and the words they speak. Humans have been alive for thousands of centuries evolving around different characteristics. Some people might argue that humans aren 't the only cruel animal but that is not the case.

Read More

Animals In Mark Twain's The Lowest Animal

413 Words | 2 Pages

Twain argues that a trait the human species has gained that sets us apart from animals is “moral sense”. He states that this trait is where all of our unfavorable customs stem from, such as cruelty, greed,

Read More

Rhetorical Techniques in Henry David Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience'

1273 Words | 6 Pages

Near the beginning of his renowned essay, "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau appeals to his fellow citizens when he says, "...I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. " This request serves as a starting point from which the rest of "Civil Disobedience" emerges. Thoreau 's essay is particularly compelling because of its incorporation of rhetorical strategies, including the use of logos, ethos, pathos, purposive discourse, rhetorical competence and identification. I will demonstrate how each of these rhetorical techniques benefit Thoreau 's persuasive argument. Thoreau uses logos throughout his essay to strengthen his argument with reasoning.

Read More

Gerald Graff Disliking Books Summary

559 Words | 3 Pages

He is not interested in the novel until his instructor mentions the critics of the novel and where it should end. Similar to these critics, the class debates whether Twain’s ending draws away from his critique of Racism and Graff found that even famous authors were capable of mistakes that could be found at his level. Now that the author has controversies to watch out for, he is able to draw a personal engagement form the books he reads as the arguments of critics guided his reading. Due to the controversy over Twain’s novel, the author then has a realization that reading and intellectual discussion could have an effect on his life, and he became less embarrassed about doing such

Read More

The Lowest Animal Analysis

290 Words | 2 Pages

In “The Lowest Animal”, Mark Twain explains man’s morals and ethics as they compare to the “higher” animals, while in the poem “Ethics” by Linda Pastan, a simple situation is given to show what a person believes is right and wrong; both works reveal the theme hope. Mark Twain takes an interesting approach to explain human nature in his work, “The Lowest Animal”. For example,“[h]e is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it” (Twain 538). People understand that hurting another human being is wrong, whether that be physical or mental abuse. However they sometimes do it anyways for the satisfaction that the action provides.

Read More

Satire And Irony In Mark Twain's A Presidential Candidate

768 Words | 4 Pages

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Twain places the reader in a situation that requires much pondering of meaning and deep, intelligent insight into the commonalities performed by leading political

Read More

Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Literary Analysis

1818 Words | 8 Pages

Thus, this is the value of Mark Twain 's novel— its ability to spark discomfort in its reader. The

Read More

More about How Does Mark Twain Use Ethos Pathos And Logos In The Damned Human Race

Related Topics

Open Document