A Rhetorical Analysis Of Shakepeare By Michael Mack

Michael Mack presented an effective argument to a class of college freshmen by using rhetorical devices and counterclaims. These techniques helped to further develop Mack’s arguments. While there are aspects of his speech that could use revision, Mack’s speech was overall successful in displaying why students should read Shakespeare.

Pursuing further why Shakespeare should not be taught in school is because Shakespeare is very difficult to understand. “Shakespeare's way with words can be tough for students to grasp”.(DeBlasis) Shakespeare is a lot to comprehend because the way Shakespeare speaks is very different from today's text”.(DeBasis) Shakespeare is very tough to understand now days

While reading the write up of this play, students are in a constant state of confusion with the complicated language used. “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou

The morals and values presented in his works speak to the audience, often offering a new perspective on the world in which they live. Students are affected by the powerful and complex characters and are rewarded with profound insights into human nature and behavior.I firmly believe that Shakespeare's works, like no other literature in the high school curriculum, challenge and invigorate the minds of students. Because of the complex characters, difficult vocabulary and style in which he writes, students must elevate their level of learning to grasp a clear understanding of his works. Shakespeare's plays hold intricate meanings and messages. His

As a high school student, reading his speech did not sway my feelings toward Shakespeare; and I found that his speech was quite on the hyperbolic side instead of giving straight up facts to his argument. His “head and heart” analogy was overall effective, but at the cost of being forcefully repetitive. What seemed to be lacking in his speech was a disconnection between Mack himself and his audience. In other words, it would’ve been more effective to tell a personal story pertaining to how Shakespeare affected Mack first-handedly. That way, the audience would have an easier way to relate to Mack and his

One technique that Mack uses to advance his argument is his use of rhetorical devices. Lines 7-8 Mack used a rhetorical question “I don’t get it; is it really worth the effort?” Asking this question is meant to grab the freshmen’s attention. Although I feel like asking this rhetorical question is ineffective, due to the fact that if someone has no interest in Shakespeare a rhetorical question will go through one ear and out the other. Lines 34-42 Mack used the rhetorical device logos. “The editors, john Heming and henry Condell” said there self that to read Shakespeare you have to read “again and again”. Although Mack tried to include facts in his speech, his facts are ineffective. Proving that Shakespeare is hard to understand doesn’t make someone let alone freshmen want to read.

For example, “I’m just a normal guy” stated on lines 52-53, “I’m in a professional school, and i just want to get into my professional studies.” stated on lines 55-56, and “I much prefer something more scientific-I believe in studying ‘real things’.” stated on lines 57-58. He’s appealing to his audience by using a counterclaim to show that Shakespeare is equal with the other subjects and that he is worth as much time as the other subjects are. Another quote by Mack is “Shakespeare isn’t just for literacy types.”

“This phenomenon of people having difficulty Shakespeare is hardly news.(Line 30). It is a problem that the editors of the First Folio addressed in 1623.(Line 33), Mack explains to his audience that even Shakespeare’s editors struggled to understand Shakespeare’s work and it is acceptable for them to struggle at first. Mack follows with, “Struggling with the complexities involved in interpreting Shakespeare is a superb preparation for struggling with the complexities of life. (Line 103) Mack used these lines to inform his audience that reading Shakespeare helps prepare them for the real world. This is important to his audience because they will soon be graduating and going out into the real world on their

Mack is showing how reading Shakespeare helps you out in life. Also he says “Struggling with the complexities of interpreting Shakespeare is a superb preparation for struggling with the complexities of life.” (103-105). Mack proves his argument with this saying this is one way that makes it worth the

"Shakespeare offers us a lens on the real world in which we live in." {Lines 65-66} Mack is speaking to incoming college freshman because he wants to broaden their interests. Mack designs effective argument that why reading Shakespeare has value through his use of alliteration and counterclaims. To begin, the device that Mack uses to advance his argument is his use of alliteration. "Besides, what would my bowling buddies say." He understands how they feel but Shakespeare is hard. "I much prefer something more scientific-I believe is studying "real" things: fiction is fun to read on summer break, but..." He is referring it to fiction and that it has value. In addition, the technique that Mack uses to advance his argument is his use of counterclaim.

Do you believe reading Shakespeare is important? Mack thinks reading Shakespeare makes you smart. Mack produces an effective argument that Shakespeare makes you more smart or better to understand your emotions through his use of Rhetorical devices and giving the opponents counterclaim.

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” When he said this, Jimmy Dean meant that nothing could hold him back from his goals, and that he would change to accomplish them. If our goal, or our “destination,” is to understand Shakespeare’s original texts, then a modernized version can hold the key to comprehending them. In addition, Shakespeare should be modernized because even in Shakespeare’s time, his texts were difficult to understand, the context is not the same as it was 400 years ago, and most importantly because it is the preference of many students and teachers to help them to understand the original.

Thesis: Throughout the play Macbeth, the reader is given the advantage of knowing more things than the characters in the play through the literary device, dramatic irony. This results in suspense and heightens the flaws of the characters.

The power of language holds great significance not only in Shakespearean study but of our daily lives as well. Every nuance Shakespeare creates leaves a clue to a greater truth or understanding of our humanity. Exploring the works of Shakespeare with this in mind allows for audiences to gain more appreciation and awareness of the depth of language and communication through his dialogue and characters as Shakespeare: “asks us to adorn the actor with our thoughts and ‘carry them here and there, jumping o’er the times’” (Bevington xiii).

Shakespeare’s work is littered with metaphors; some which require careful reading to pick up on, while others are easily detectable. Simon Palfrey states that “Shakespeare’s