Rhetorical Analysis Of Rabbit Hole By Kathryn Schulz

Kelsey Pettegrew

Professor Leoson

English Composition 162

1/22/22

Essay # 1: Rhetorical Analysis

In the world today, the amount of information accessible to the public is at an all-time high; and it's only increasing. It is easier than ever to research topics or find the answers to questions in seconds. Due to this influx of information and how simple and efficient it is to access it; web surfers often fall victim to the internet ‘rabbit hole’. It may start out with just searching for a recipe, but soon you may very well end up looking at informational videos about black holes or at new methods of tying your shoes. Getting lost from a place or subject you originally began and intended to pursue and ending up somewhere completely

“The typical rabbit hole, by contrast, is between four and six inches wide at the opening and slants downward several feet at a shallow angle: a challenging environment for a free fall, even for someone as small as Alice,” (Schulz). Schulz explains that rabbit holes are much smaller than other burrows; exposing the irony behind the phrase itself. What would typically be considered insignificant relative to the sizes of other animals’ burrows, is used to describe a long and expansive place far from where it originally began. This information about the comparative sizes of animal burrows adds to the exposition on the literal origin of the phrase, helping the readers to understand and grasp the context of the

This emotional connection is an example of ‘pathos’. As found in the text, “The common charge against our online habits is that they are shallow; but, in keeping with the metaphor, rabbit holes deepen our world. They remind us of the sheer abundance of stuff available to think about, the range of things in which it is possible to grow interested. Better still, they present knowledge as pleasure. The modern rabbit hole, unlike the original, isn’t a means to an end. It’s an end in itself—an end without end, inviting us ever onward, urging us to keep becoming, as Alice would say, curiouser and curiouser,” (Schulz). By adding insightful observations and personal opinions, the readers empathize and understand the viewpoint of the writer. The emotional connection the writer makes by bringing in subjects people care and ponder about helps to create a personal connection between the reader and the