Rhetorical Strategies

Blog # 1: Rhetorical Strategies

·      Simile: “Like the waters of the river, like the motorists of the highway, and like the yellow trains streaking down the Santa Fe tracks, drama, in the shape of exceptional happenings, had never stopped there” (5).

·      Foreshadowing: “ Then, touching the brim of his cap, he headed for home and the day’s work, unaware that it would be his last” (13).

·      Asyndeton and Simile: “Scrubbed, combed, as tidy as two dudes setting off on a double date, they went out to the car” (32).

·      Zeugma: “…who lost his money and then his mind” (32).

·      Alliteration: “Get the bubbles out of your blood”(37).

·      Rhetorical question: “ How was it possible that such effort, such plain virtue, could overnight be reduced to this-smoke, thinning as it rose and was received by the big, annihilating sky?” (79).

Truman Capote’s novel, In Cold Blood, is written with a hauntingly grand style. The story in and of itself is evocative, but it is Capote’s style that brings it to life. In Cold Blood is filled with many rhetorical strategies that better illustrate the setting, explain the feelings of the characters, and influence feelings that the reader may have towards the story. For instance, the simile “Like the waters of the river, like the motorists of the highway, and like the yellow trains streaking down the Santa Fe tracks, drama, in the shape of exceptional happenings, had never stopped there,” is used to create an emotional appeal (5). The author employs simile to illustrate the town of Holcomb as quiet, humble, and safe. The emotional appeal lies in the fact that this meek town was attacked, and that, in effect, the event caused the people to become fearful of each other and caused the town to lose its safe qualities. Another way that Capote evokes emotion is in foreshadowing. By stating that Mr. Clutter was going to be murdered while describing how wonderful his life was at the time, the author creates a melancholy mood. The author then switches to the point of view of the murderers. “Scrubbed, combed, as tidy as two dudes setting off on a double date, they went out to the car” to drive to Holcomb and murder the family (32). This particular rhetorical strategy was oddly used. It compares two completely different things-“two dudes setting off on a double date” to two cold-hearted murderers. This comparison shows the psychopathic mindset of the offenders showing how excited they are to perform the task at hand. The zeugma and alliteration strategies were used to create a rhythmic sound and to catch the reader’s attention and draw him or her back into the story. Capote asks, “How was it possible that such effort, such plain virtue, could overnight be reduced to this-smoke, thinning as it rose and was received by the big, annihilating sky?”  to pose the problem of American violence- the main purpose for this book. By asking it in a question, he invites the reader to think for himself about the problem of such brutality. Truman Capote’s writing relies heavily on a multitude of rhetorical strategies and lavish diction. Because of his unique style, his story has a greater impact on its readers.