ERIC Number: ED296414
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-May
Pages: 30
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Ahab's Speeches: Bombs or Bombastics? A Rhetorical Criticism.
Fadely, Dean
In an attempt to define rhetorical discourse, the paper examines the speeches of Ahab, the main character from Herman Melville's book, "Moby-Dick." The paper first determines if Ahab's speeches actually fall into the category of rhetorical discourse by examining his major speeches, and then ascertains whether his speeches are bombs (successful speeches) or bombastics (unsuccessful speeches--partially synonymous with the term "mere rhetoric" when it is used in a derogatory sense). The examination takes place within the context of the closed system of the novel itself. The paper concludes that (1) an analysis of Ahab's speeches revealed that amidst their metaphorical language there is power; (2) the power is predicated on something more than style and something greater than figurative language; and (3) the power of Ahab's speeches is grounded in their content and developed through the correct usage of numerous rhetorical principles. (MS)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A