Character Argument Analysis
Objective:
Remember that any time we try to convince someone else of something, that is an argument. Characters in Shakespeare’s The Tempest are constantly trying to persuade one another to do things, think things, stop doing things, etc. All of these conversations between characters can be thought of as arguments, too!
This assignment will help you both to think critically about the arguments various characters (Prospero, Caliban, Ariel, Antonio, etc.) make on a variety of topics in The Tempest and to practice identifying the various persuasive/rhetorical terms we’ve covered so far in class.
Instructions:
Select any TWO passages in The Tempest and analyze the strategies that the speakers use in order to present their arguments.
For example, you may choose to analyze the bitter exchange between Caliban and Prospero in Act 1.2, lines 310 – 375. Another possibility is the debate between Ariel and Prospero, found in Act 1.2, lines 240 – 305. You may choose whichever passages you like.
Format:
Your analysis does not have to be in typical essay format (introduction, conclusion, body paragraphs, etc.), though it can be if you choose. It can simply be presented as a few pages worth of paragraphs or bullet points, each of which explains which rhetorical/argument strategy is in use and why you think so.
Whichever format you choose, be sure to let me know which passage(s) you are examining; also, be sure to quote directly from the play as much as possible. (Don’t worry about properly citing your quotations, since we haven’t yet discussed how to do this.)
What to Discuss:
(Try to cover as many of these as you can, within reason.)
The Rhetorical Appeals
Pathos
Connotative words (positive, negative, neutral)
Emotional examples & anecdotes
Emotional tone, meaningful language, repetition
Ethos
Sounding fair and reasonable
Establishing expertise, authority
Language appropriate to topic
Logos
Facts, studies, analogies, statistics
Deductive arguments (syllogisms)
Inductive arguments
Logical fallacies (non sequitur, ad hominem, post hoc, begging the question, false dichotomy, weak analogy, bandwagon, straw man, hasty generalization)
The Claims
Claims of fact
Claims of value
Claims of policy
Grading:
Understanding & Critical Thinking Demonstrated – You’ll be graded on the number of strategies you correctly analyze (and whether or not you call them by the terms we’ve discussed in class.) You MUST analyze 2 different exchanges (conversations) between characters. You should do your best to choose conversations that include a variety of appeals (logos, pathos, ethos.) If you only ever show me examples of pathos, I’m going to assume that’s all you know! The whole purpose of this assignment is to show me that you understand the rhetorical appeals and can point to examples of them being used.
Specificity – Please be sure to be as specific as possible in your analysis of your chosen passages! Don’t just say, “there’s pathos happening here.” Tell me who is presenting an emotional argument and why you say so. The more specific you are, the better your grade will be!
Correct Format – Normal paper format (header in upper left corner, including name, course number, date, and my name), properly numbered pages and margins, etc.
Grammar & Sentence Structure: Though this is not a formal essay, you should nevertheless use academic English and proper punctuation.