January 21, 2009
Rhetorical foundations of the Inauguration Speechifying - from Anaphora to Zeugma.
- Anaphora, "emphasizing words by repeating them at the beginnings of neighboring clauses" -- "For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh." ... Also, "That's not change, that's more of the same."
- Epistrophe, repetition of the same word or words at the end of successive phrases, clauses or sentences. For example, the Yes We Can speech:
For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we've been told that we're not ready, or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people.
Yes we can.
It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can. - Antimetabole: "The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do."
- Signifying and a Dog Whistle all in one: "They're trying to bamboozle you. It's the same old okie-doke. Y'all know about okie doke, right?". The video is worth watching -- his speech really changes when he shifts into black preacher mode.
- Antithesis: "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." (See also this analysis
- Merism (lots of this): "And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more."
- Couldn't find any chiasmus, hendiadys or zeugma (OK so I lied in the pitch.) -- can you?
Other literary notes on the inauguration inside.
- Obama's speech referred to a passage read to the troops at Valley Forge ("Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter"). Washington's orders of the day included text from The Crisis by Thomas Paine. You're probably already familiar with its more familiar opening:
THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.
- Rev Lowery's 'help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right' is from a Zora Neale Huston story, itself sampling a Big Bill Broonzy song. Another whole layer of interesting read in context.
- The fuddled Oath of Office: Obama jumped in early, but Roberts fudged the lines. 'sOK tho: we've already had a couple do-overs, by Coolidge and Arthur.
thanks for the lowdown on lowery's speech.
i didn't appreciate the speech as much when i heard it as i do now. i had dismissed it as a bit of sharptonesque rhyme for no reason. at some point in the distant past i had read huston's story, but never put the two together. i like the link back to broonzy as well. never would have made the connection.
good stuff mrflip, thank you.
I have no idea whatsoever what's going on here.
I thought readers of this post might also like this other one.
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make fix to link of video after signifying and dog whistle prease. Youtube says vid id malformed. [fixd, thanks -- mgmt.]
posted by TowtruckJohnny at 08:27PM CST on January 21