Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Terms

Apostrophe

Calling out in a direct address to an abstract quality for effect

Plain Folks Device

(Distrust of Intellectualism) Identifying with the common man Ex: I am no orator like Brutus, but as you know me a plain, blunt man

Ethos

Ethical, good character, sound base of personal integrity, establish credibility-such as letting audience know your character and credentials

Pathos

Emotionally charged words or language, greed, pity, compassion, used in Antony's speech

Syllogism

logical reasoning with a major and minor premise Ex: If it rains (P), then the picnic will be cancelled (Q)

Logos

the appeal to logic, means to convince an audience by use of logic or reason. Antony used this when he reads the will of Caesar to the crowd

Deductive reasoning

a form of reasoning that begins with a generalization, then applies the generalization to a specific case or cases

Catharsis

A sense of emotional release experienced from watching a tragedy

Antithesis

opposition or contrast that is emphasized by parallel structure, and it is a statement opposed to something previously asserted

Parallel Structure

The repetition of multiple phrases with the same syntax and word order, often used to emphasize pathos

Parallelism

The repetition of clear grammatical structure

Repetition

The repeating of similar phrases throughout a work Ex: Antony called Brutus an honorable man 9 times in his speech before the plebians

Personification

the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

Imagery

lively descriptions which impress the images of things upon the mind, used a lot in both Brutus and Antony's speeches to get the listeners to visualize

Metaphor

A figure of speech where one object is compared to another as if it were truly that specific thing, without using like or as

Figurative Language

Language that uses figures of speech, which is any expressive use of language that involves words that have meanings that are not literal

Alliteration

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

Anecdotes

a short entertaining account of some happening, frequently personal or biographical, used to relate

Allusions

A brief or indirect reference to a person, place, or thing that is involved with the Bible, is supposed to be easily recognizable by the reader. Often used to speak about Jesus Christ

Charged (emotionally charged) Words

words that contain implications beyond their literal meanings, and are often used to persuade or convey a specific way of thinking. These are used to "cut" into Caesar and associates with each person who stabbed him

Call to Action

An explicit appeal to an audience to take action immediately after a speaker has finished speaking, used by Antony to insight riots in Rome

Fallacy (can you pick them out in Julius Caesar)

The use of invalid or otherwise faulty reasoning in the midst of a speech or argument

Concessions made

An expression of concern for the feelings of those who might disagree with the speaker

Refutations made

An assertion made by the speaker that the opponent's arguments are wrong and argue against