Rhetorical Analysis Of Earl Spencer's Eulogy example essay topic

The three rhetorical theories that are portrayed strongly through out Earl Spencers Eulogy to Princess Diana are Vilification, Rhetorical Situation, and Metaphorical Devices. His devices are used to depict the media and family for the main cause of Princess Dianas death. This eulogy is so controversial because normally eulogies are positive tributes about ones life. The Vilification theory is usually unheard of in eulogies, and the way he presents such metaphors are certainly not becoming of the media and the royal family. Vilification, is a rhetorical strategy that discredits adversaries by characterizing them as un genuine and malevolent advocates, developed by Marsha L. Vand orford it is heard through out Earl Spencers speech. This strategy does not differentiate opponents as good people with a difference of opinion, vilification deligitimizes them through characteristics of inventions, purposes, and identities.

There are a few forms and functions of Vilification. It formulates a specific adversarial force (identifying the enemy), casts opponents in a negative light (portraying them as corrupt and immoral, defining the speaker as moral and just), it also magnifies the opponents power (striping them of legitimacy through one or more combinations of these forms.) There are significant statements that portray the vilification strategy in Earl Spencers Eulogy. He talks about Princess Dianas yearning to get out of England, because the treatment that she had received at the hands of the newspaper. He remarks on how baffling it was that the media was always on a permanent quest to bring the princess down, and how she was probably the most hunted person of modern age. These citations represent the forms of Vilification. Marsha Vander for would agree that the media would be the formulating the enemy.

He did not make any kind remarks towards them, and it also made the public think about how much they did hurt Diana. Therefore damaging reporters reputations. We know that people live for the gossip that is published out there on the newsstands, but important figures have started to shut the media out in their private lives, in hopes that there will not be another tragedy like this. If the media backed off of this problem, it might not have happened in the first place, and they could still be receiving coverage and interviews by more people. (Vander ford 216-218) The second device, The rhetorical situation, is one of the most fundamental and useful concepts. The term was first used by Lloyd Bitter (1968) in "The Rhetorical Situation", to refer to all the features of audience, purpose, and exigency that serve to create a moment suitable for a rhetorical response.

(Zepernick 1-2) The concept itself, however, is a very ancient one and appears in some form in many earlier treatises, including Aristotle's Rhetoric and Cicero's De Orator e. The rhetorical situation can be understood as the circumstances under which the rhetor writes or speaks. This includes the nature and disposition of the audience, the exigence that impels the writer to enter the conversation, the writer's goal or purpose, and also the general state of the world outside the more specific context of the issue at hand. All of these elements work together to determine what kinds of arguments will be effective, or as Aristotle would say the available means of persuasion. Spencers speech does include the main elements of a rhetorical situation (exigency, audience, and context / constraints ).

The exigency is not only important because it is the eulogy of his sisters funeral, but he touches on issues that are rare to a eulogy, as well as bringing up many of Dianas fine traits. Spencer condemned Dianas tormentors in the media, and reprimanded the royal family for revoking the princess title. Bringing up such constraints in this text he was aware of the eye brows he was going to raise, since the Windsor family was so prim and proper. What better time to reprimand the media and family than this speech Spencer was obviously aware that more than 2.5 billion people were going to tune into this dreadful occasion. He also spoke of the wonderful things Diana done for the world and great times they had shared together as children and adults.

He clearly touched on every aspect of his audience the media, family, and the world. Lloyd would agree that the exigency and goals were to inform the general pubic of how corruptness of the royal family and media truly affected this great women. That Spencer did demonstrate the main purpose of a rhetorical situation, by incorporating all of the three main elements of a rhetorical situation cohesively. The last theory demonstrated in Spencers eulogy was metaphorical devices. A metaphor is a comparison which imaginatively identifies one thing with another, dissimilar thing, and transfers or ascribes to the first thing (the tenor or idea) some of the qualities of the second (the vehicle, or image). Unlike a simile or analogy, metaphor asserts that one thing is another thing, not just that one is like another.

Very frequently a metaphor is invoked by the to be verb. Personification metaphorically represents an animal or inanimate object as having human attributes-attributes of form, character, feelings, behavior, and so on. Ideas and abstractions can also be personified. (Harris, 35) These devices are what proves Earl Spencers speech so controversial. The way in which he uses these rhetorical devices makes the audience stop, think, and question what he says, since they are not as deliberate as saying- the media is responsible for this.

Instead phrases such as her good intentions being sneered at by the media were used. Bringing up Dianas eating disorders her desire to do good for others so she could release herself from deep feelings of unworthiness of which her eating disorders were merely a symptom, brought the crowd to a silence. Pledging that the blood family will do what they can to continue steering them in the right direction, so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition but can sing openly Describing the nation being chewed up with the sadness at the loss of a women who was not even our mother is another example of personification. Not all of the statements used by this device were negative.

He commented on how Diana was a symbol of selfless humanity, the essence of compassion, beauty, and style, she had God-given sensitivity, and needed no royal title to generate her particular brand of magic. These comments were what brought Spencers speech to be so effective and memorable. The little snide remarks were what captivated the audience and kept them in tuned. Some people never knew how exactly Diana felt inside. Without these comments Spencers eulogy would have been like any other eulogy heard in the past. He brought out both the positive and negative remarks in a stubble but eye opening way.

Vilification, Rhetorical Situation, and Metaphorical devices are what able Earl Spencers Eulogy to be analyzed rhetorically. The three theories bring out the negativity that royal family and the media portrayed. If Earl Spencer had not made such negative digs at the media and royal family there would not be any support for these terms. Fortunately he did give the media and royal family a taste of their own medicine. For years they had been on Dianas case, whether it be taking back her title or trying to get the latest story on her personal life. Unfortunately nothing can be done about it now, but the most important thing is that it was said.

Spencer did not worry about the aftermath of the speech. He said what he needed to, and in the end it was received positively by the nation in grief. The audience reacted in shock at first, and then the crowd stood up and cheered. 1055 Annotated Bibliography: Earl Spencers Eulogy Beebe, Steven, Susan, B bee. Public Speaking, An Audience-Centered Approach.

Needham Heights: A Vico m Company, 1991. This book is used as an excellent way of defining the style, delivery and mannerism that Earl Spencer uses in his speech. It explains exactly what a eulogy is supposed to entail, and provides me with reasons why his speech can be analyzed rhetorically. For example, the definition the Beebe es have provided me with is, a tribute delivered when someone has died to commemorate their life. However, Earl Spencers speech did not only commemorate Princes Dianas life, it also condemned tormentors in Dianas life and provided some insights about the royal family. Cockcroft, Robert.

Persuading people: An Introduction to Rhetoric. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1994. The book focuses on the organized methods and tools of persuasion. It explains the main elements of rhetorical discourse: invention" (developing arguments), "disposition" (organizing one's subject) and "style" (the means of persuasion).

The three elements play an important role in the development of Spencers speech. I plan on elaborating on how each of these made an impact on his speech. Earl Spencers Tribute. Sept. 1997. On the web site freeality. com it provides a direct link to Real Player.

Real Player is an online video generated site in which you can view events that have been previously recorded. I was able to review the full eulogy given by Earl Spencer. This has allowed me to view his nonverbal gestures, and changes in vocal tones given throughout his speech. Not only does the video show Spencers delivery, it also scans the crowd, so I can interpret their reactions as well. Harris, Robert A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices... Los Angeles: USC, 1997 This book contains definitions and examples of more than sixty traditional rhetorical devices.

It gives detailed descriptions of the rhetorical devices that take place through out the speech. It is clear to understand because each definition gives so many examples to the way the devices can be used. I am able to look at the text of Earl Spencers speech and compare which ones he uses. It has defiantly given me a greater understanding to the meaning of rhetoric. Swanson, Robert. Home Page.

1 Sept. 1997. This web site provides me with the written text of Earl Spencers eulogy. It is an important site because I will be able to directly quote his speech.

Although the video is important, it is hard to critically analyze his speech, by just hearing it. The speech is eight minutes in length and it is easier to depict the exact phrases he uses that suggest usages of rhetoric, rather than having an idea of what they were.