Chiasmus

Chiastic structure is a literary technique where the first set of ideas are reiterated by the second set of ideas but in reverse order, divided by the central idea. The median point may be used to identify a leading or main idea and generally contains the most important part of the structure because it is the emphasis of the passage. Because of the symmetrical structure, any break within the pattern, in this case the middle point, is distinguishable along the writing and holds implications of a deeper meaning. The chiastic structure of the narrative of Joseph in Genesis, chapters 37 to 50, shows a parallel storyline that peaks at an idea that is not explicitly said but instead revealed, that God is faithful in his promise to Abraham's descendants by continuing to fulfill this promise through Joseph and his story. Throughout Genesis 37-50, the story of Joseph is unfolded. To begin with, Joseph had a dream or a prophecy that he would reign over his brothers and his family would bow down to him (Genesis 37:7). Consequently, his brothers conspired to kill him and threw him in a pit(Genesis 37:24), where he is then found and becomes a slave to Egypt(Genesis 37:28). He gains favor with his master, however, his master’s wife attempts to seduce him (Genesis 39:7) resulting in Joseph being sent to prison (Genesis 39:20). In this setting, Joseph interprets the cupbearer's dream and when Pharaoh had a dream, the cupbearer remembers Joseph and sends him to interpret Pharaoh's dream…

22).” With this purpose, he skillfully uses rhetorical tools such as antithesis and chiasmus to connect to Americans and to the world, unite them and encourage them to join this global fight over their freedom. The response of American citizens to his appeal was large and became a great momentum to support the new president and his visions. According to Clarke Thurston (2005), Kennedy got only 49.7 percent of popular vote when he won the 1960 election, but he received an approval rating of 72…

Michael Marissen, a music historian and writer, states in his book, Lutheranism, Anti-Judaism, and Bach’s St. John Passion, that during his time in Leipzig, “It was Bach’s job as Cantor at the St. Thomas School of Leipzig to be a musical preacher for the city’s main churches” (Marissen, 7). To deliver his spiritual messages in the clearest form, it was furthermore Bach’s duty to structure his music in such a way that allowed its message to also make a subconscious impact as well. However, it has…

net/literary-devices/) DuBois set the mood by using specific devices to arouses the emotions of his audience. Devices such as antithesis, defined by Encyclopedia Britannica’s as being,“ a figure of speech in which irreconcilable opposites or strongly contrasting ideas are placed in sharp juxtaposition and sustained tension”, as in such examples as DuBois statement “Art is long, and Time is fleeting”. He also contrast divine brotherhood of all men, “white and black, rich and poor, fortunate…

stood before a crowd in Washington, DC to discuss his grievances about the treatment of blacks in America. In a speech that even King knew would go down in history as the “greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation” before he began, a movement was sparked by a powerful speaker, causing actions beyond what he ever imagined. To this day, our country continues to carry on his name and legacy by celebrating a national holiday in his honor, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Before a…

his inauguration as the 35th President of the United States of America. At that time the United States was deep into the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Kennedy’s speech mentions the ongoing economic and military competition between the two nations (“John F. Kennedy”). In his inaugural address, John F. Kennedy uses chiasmus, repetition and emotional appeal to convince the American people to move away from conflict, and focus on progress. In Kennedy’s speech to the American people following…

Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.” Now, clearly this is an exaggeration. However, President Kennedy uses this hyperbole to paint the image of the unfathomably large group of Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice answering the call to protect freedom. This allowed him to portray the feeling that sacrifice would be necessary to achieve “the final success or failure of this course.” Kennedy’s ability to rally the emotions of the audience through key rhetorical…

malice images such as this memory of the whipping to proselytize the reader that slavery should be abolished. Throughout his entire narrative, Douglass builds his appeal to ethos with facts and unbiased statements about his life as a slave. He establishes ethos in the beginning of the first chapter when he says, “the white children could tell their ages. I could not tell why I ought to be deprived the same privilege” (Douglass 1). This proves that he is a credible source because this is his…

These are just three modes of persuasions, so how can three simple things take up 328 pages? Easy, by presenting them in many different situations that happen in everyday lives seen through the eyes of Aristotle, Homer Simpson, toddlers, adults, etc. Of course, that is exactly what Heinrichs did when he wrote Thank You For Arguing. In fact, Heinrichs illustrates the ins and outs of rhetoric by giving detailed examples of how to subtly place it in an argument. For example, a rhetoric tool called…

Furthermore, the president used multiple strategies to appeal the audience's attention that include logos, pathos, and ethos; not only has that he also used chiasmus, metaphor, and repetition. The examples of those rhetorical discourses are found in these two following quotes: "the energy, the faith, the devotion; which we bring to this endeavor will light our country," and he added, "Never negotiate out of fear, but never fear to negotiate." Kennedy is arguing, in fact, that battle against…