Studying Speeches

What is rhetoric?
Rhetorical criticism

Definition: Rhetoric
The use of the resources of language to
shape response to a public situation.

Definition: Rhetoric

Rhetoric responds to situations

Rhetoric shapes action
Rhetoric involves the use of language in
response
Rhetoric is strategic: goal seeking

As a public we demand leaders

speak . . .
They clarify events for us
They provide us an account of what
happened
They guide us to a public response
They inspire us to commit to that
response

Understanding Rhetorical Moments

Bitzers account of rhetorical situation

Exigence: The problem demanding response

Audience: The public the speaker addresses

Understanding Rhetorical Moments

Constraints: resources available to speaker

Including limiting elements & opportunities

Speaker makes choices: fitting or unfitting

We judge the speakers rhetorical act: a fitting

response to rhetorical situation or not

Context
We study several factors:

What exigence created the rhetorical moment?

What happened? What is the trigger?

What did the speaker draw upon in his rhetorical

response? What did s/he not choose to recognize?

History of the times; broader historical understanding

Context

What characteristics of the speaker helped shape

his/her response? (personal constraints)

How did the speech shape public response?

Response to the speech