ipl-logo

Rhetorical Analysis Of Edward Abbey's Essay 'Down The River'

651 Words3 Pages

Down the River Rhetorical Analysis
In his collection of essays entitled Down the River, American author Edward Abbey shares many of his experiences and conclusions from exploring the world. Abbey’s writing demonstrates his adventurous side and his willingness to go out into the wilderness. From his adventures, he learns more about the world than most people, which he shares with his readers. Edwards Abbey uses rhetorical strategies such as anecdotes, diction, and hyperboles to achieve his overall purpose of how much knowing and experiencing the true beauty of nature is mostly unknown by most people living their busy lives.
Edward Abbey uses anecdotes to convey his true feelings and expressions to give the readers a deep understanding of what he saw and experienced in nature. He discusses his first time coming face to face with a mountain lion describing how he was in awe and the mutual curiosity he felt between him and the lion. Abbey tells this tale when he states,”I stopped, the big cat stopped, …show more content…

His choice and stylistic manipulation of words creates a significant effect on passing his purpose onto us of the alluring beauty of nature. The author uses an intriguing word choice when he states,”...world is not nearly big enough and that any portion of its surface, left unpaved and alive, is infinitely rich in details and relationships, in wonder, beauty, mystery, comprehensible only in part.” Throughout this sentence, he uses many words to help the reader picture even a slight glimpse of what he is talking about throughout the essay. Abbey describes how every portion of nature not taken over by humans has endless details to find if you just stop to glimpse even for a minute. With this word choice, Abbey effectively makes the readers fascinated with the possibilities they could find from exploring

Show More
Related
2011 Words | 9 Pages

Cardenas 1 Leslie Cardenas Professor Marisol Gonzalez English 1302 May 6, 2017 Patrick Henry “Liberty or Death” speech As far as great persuasive speakers goes on in American History, Patrick Henry was the best one yet. On March 23, 1775, a meeting taking place at the Second Convention at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Henry announced one of the most famous calls in history ever to be heard. His “Liberty or Death” speech made several statements that were in form of rhetorical questions. Meaning, he would ask one question that didn’t need to be answered by anyone, or the answer was so obvious it didn’t need an explanation. His well known words became a rallying cry during the march to the Revolutionary war that was soon to begin.

Read More
150 Words | 1 Pages

The year is 1765; Patrick Henry stands before a colonial assembly, booming the words “If this be treason, then make the most of it” in response to their claims of treason (u-s-history.com). The topic of openly admitting to treason is also expressed within what is commonly referred to as his most famous speech, “Speech to the Second Virginia Convention”. He begins the speech with a statement claiming that it should be considered treason to remain quiet on voicing issues, which ultimately correlates with the three main points repeatedly supported throughout: America needing to separate from the British, the fact that the colonists made multiple attempts in protesting peacefully but must now resort to war, and the colonists knowing God will be

Read More
1317 Words | 6 Pages

March 23, 1775. A crowd of Virginia delegates were corralled into a tiny church to attend the second Virginia Convention where history was soon to be changed forever. On the third day of the convention Patrick Henry, a flamboyant rebel, arose from the mass to deliver a speech that would silence his opposition and encourage his supporters. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” was articulated for the purpose of persuading the members of the convention to organize militia units in every county of Virginia and to stand up to Great Britain to gain their independence. Henry’s speech included protests against the ongoing and relentless British tyranny that invaded the colonists’ lives.

Read More
730 Words | 3 Pages

Lawyer and politician, Patrick Henry in his speech, “Give me Liberty Or Give Me Death” (March 23, 1775), explains that he give this plea to urge the old dominion to form militias to defend itself against British. He supports his claim by first using a religious reference to express the themes of freedom, equality, and independence. Then uses a selection of other strategies like rhetorical question and allusion to disprove the opposing arguments and clarify the point he is making. Patrick Henry purpose is to fight back and he wants other to fight with him in order for independence. He creates a powerful and commanding tone for the second Virginia convention.

Read More
479 Words | 2 Pages

In 1775, the second Virginia Convention was held and during the debate on whether or not the colonies should mobilize for military action in response to Britain; Patrick Henry respectfully proposes arming the Virginia Militia and introduces his view on what actions to take in regard to the conflict with Britain. While the delegates want to peacefully approach the situation, Patrick Henry calls for action and he expresses this by establishing credibility with the audience, questioning the audience, and use of repetition. Henry’s tone shifts from a respectful to a frustrated and urgent tone. Patrick Henry starts of his speech by taking into account of the colonists and emphasizes that he has a different view on how to handle the conflict.

Read More
720 Words | 3 Pages

Barry communicates his fascination of the Mississippi through his intensely detailed sequences of the river, stand out word choice and use of juxtaposition with other rivers. If we were to imagine Barry’s passage without the use of these rhetorical devices, this enthusiasm would be largely dimmed and unable to convey to the readers. It is only through Barry’s use of words such as “radically alters”, “like an uncoiling rope” and as if it was trying to “devour itself” would the intense fascination that we get as readers of his writing be conveyed. The descriptions of the river flow, which could have just been described using words such as “fast” or “slow” has been granted with detailed complexity from Barry’s word choice. His decision to provide readers with almost a visual of the river through metaphors like “uncoiling a rope” and “snapping like a whip” allow us to envision the scene.

Read More
748 Words | 3 Pages

At the Virginia convention in 1774, the delegates such as Patrick Henry, gather to decide their course of action, in a time where their primary goal was to rid themselves of their oppressor, Great Britain. Patrick Henry addresses the other delegates and discloses his opinion on what course of action the people should take. In his speech at the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry forcefully influences the audience to go to war with Great Britain through diction, figurative language and rhetorical devices and by confronting them with their current position of danger in the face of the inevitable British Invasion. Patrick Henry emphasizes his opinion of the necessary war by using diction such as ethos and logos, through appeals to their senses that make connections for the audience. Through Henry’s repetitive utilization of ethos

Read More
1644 Words | 7 Pages

To achieve freedom and independence from a tyrannical government you need to be able to spread revolutionary ideas. The best way to do this is through a politically persuasive argument. Leading up to the American Revolution to gather support for independence, powerful speeches were given to bring about change. The American Revolution was successful because of how protest, speeches, and literature all worked together to persuade Americans to declare independence from Great Britain. The Virginia Convention needed to be persuaded to prepare for war with the British.

Read More
932 Words | 4 Pages

The speaker, Patrick Henry, was effective in his purpose of persuading the colonists to stand up and fight for their freedom and liberty. Patrick Henry is speaking to the colonists to rally them against the British. The occasion is that after years of abuse and neglect from the British Parliament, many colonists, such as Patrick Henry, believed it was time to revolt against the British and their mistreatment of the colonists. The subject of Patrick Henry´s speech is explaining to the colonists why they need to break free from British control. Patrick Henry uses logos to rationalize to the colonists why their beliefs in their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are under attack.

Read More
1064 Words | 5 Pages

Patrick Henry presented a monumental speech that convinced the Virginia delegates to consider independence from England. Henry’s speech was one of the many catalysts that tilted the once ambivalent and divided mindsets of the colonists about England to a rebellious sentiment. The powerful speech was delivered on March 23, 1775 which called for opposition against the British; the rapid success of the Henry’s speech can be seen by the first military engagements in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 shortly after the speech was made at the Virginia Convention. In his speech, Henry attempts to persuade the members of the Convention that war with Britain is inevitable and waiting will only make the war more difficult to win.

Read More
1195 Words | 5 Pages

The American Revolution was a period where independence was growing immensely among the thirteen colonies of America. The struggle for independence was shown through persuasive literature and speeches spoken and or written by some of the most influential men in Americas early history attempting to persuade men in the thirteen colonies to fight against Britain for their freedom. Patrick Henry was one of these influential men. Patrick Henry’s Speech in the Virginia Convention addresses the delegates of the Virginia Convention with an ethos appeal that uses allusions, rhetorical questions, and parallelism to persuade the delegates to be on board with the idea of going to war with Britain. Patrick Henry uses allusions many times in his speech

Read More
920 Words | 4 Pages

“What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? (79)”, this quote is from the book, Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

Read More
545 Words | 3 Pages

“ Give me liberty or give me death”,( Patrick Henry). The most well known speech given by the prestigious Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775 expressing his thoughts and feelings about fighting back against Britain and protecting their beloved country. At this time the British was defeating America terribly which had made Patrick Henry feel as though his freedom was being jeopardized. Patrick Henry’s speech was an attempt to persuade the american citizens not to just sit and do nothing, he wanted to fight back against Britain. Patrick Henry felt as though many of the citizens were not aware of the seriousness of what was happening and that the needed to have a wake up call.

Read More
459 Words | 2 Pages

Patrick henry uses rhetorical appeals by using God to persuade memebers of the virginia convention to go to war with Britian. He uses pathos, logos, and ethos because he appeasl to peoples emotions and how they feel about going to war with Britain. Henry is a person who fights to get what he wants. He's a man that believes fighting is the only way of getting freedom. Henry is a credible speaker because of this he gets some to agree with him on going to war with Britain, and some still disagree becasue some say they are not ready, they are weak.

Read More
794 Words | 4 Pages

Sentence Assessment Task Rhetorical Analysis: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” (Austen) Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) Austen’s famous statement on marriage and equality continues to resonate in modern society. In comparison to today, the Victorian era significantly suppressed women’s rights (Hughes). However, Austen juxtaposes that idea by stating that it is the man, no matter how wealthy, who ‘must be in want of a wife.’

Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of Edward Abbey's Essay 'Down The River'

Related Topics

Open Document