Homework, Thank You!

      It comes in all shapes and sizes.  It comes during the day, and even the night (contrarium).  O homework, how you doth bequeath my understanding with experience (personification)!  Even as the delicate hands of angel caress those of the weary (comparison), do my hands attend to thee (metaphor).  Thou are deserving.  “The pen is mightier than the sword” they say, and the luster of ink shines ever brighter in this world of doom and woe (metonymy).  The earth hath circumnavigated the sun many times with thee as my faithful companion.    At moments might I thee blame, but alas, it is on the contrary. Only canst I thee fail (hyperbaton).  I enjoyeth the satisfaction that cometh when I complete thee, even more so when I have done so in a timely and sensible manner.  What ho? Is that the squawking (onomatopoeia) of disapproval?  Doth mine ears betray me?  Roommate, you complaineth in the background, but you understandeth not, nor doth the ignorant (apostrophe).  No one understandeth you, o homework, the way I do, because “you’ve got a friend in me.”

Conflict Issues and Special Topics of Invention in Corporate Sales

     Ironically, many people who know about Corporate Sales would most likely argue that it is one of the fields that has the most opportunities to be persuasive. In the corporate world, persuasive skills and appeals are absolutely essential.

     A typical example that occurs regularly in the corporate sales is something as follows: “Let me explain to you why our firm’s product is so much better and more efficient than Company X’s. Clearly, by the looks of our sales last year, we trumped Company X’s sales revenue by over 65 percent on the given product. We are selling it so rapidly that we are now opening up different markets in Canada, Mexico, and Brazil as we move to the worldwide scale. The product is much more useful due to the new high definition screen, the way it takes over 72 hours to run out of battery, and it’s lightning speed connection to the internet. It literally is not even fair to Company X because of how outstanding our rates are. We would completely agree with the New York Times front page last year when they said our product is ‘quite possibly the most innovative, exciting product that the country has seen in a decade’.” 

     There are literally numerous examples of persuasive appeals that are displayed in the above example. There is a heavy use of the common topic- “comparison”, as my company completely proves why it’s new product is so much better than Company X’s. In any kind of sales job, there will always be a lot of comparison between two firms. We have to exploit the weaknesses of the other firm to show why we are better. Also, we can se the use of “testimony” as we quote New York Times in their front headline. It gives us credibility as we show a big time source giving us credit. It makes us appear much more powerful and stronger as an organization. 

"Happiness is a Warm Puppy"

As you can see, my handicapped brother is very happy with his dog.

As one can see in the picture shown, a dog is a serious source of joy for my brother. He would claim that his “Daisy Pooch” as he calls her, is “his best friend” [witness]. It’s not just my brother, though that gets this kind of joy from a dog! I know I feel a sense of peace when I can just cuddle up with a possible/impossible]. But, it’s simply not possible for someone to just rent a puppy anytime they feel like it. It’s inconvenient and with many apartments restricting animals from their premises, it also isn't probable that every student would be willing to take the risk.

puppy pal. I’m not the only one, either- if this weren't true, “Rent-a-puppy” couldn't possibly have thrived so well in Provo! [

Here are some compelling reasons that off-campus housing should include more dog-friendly apartments:

1)      Other campuses allow it! [comparison] A ton of my high school friends are happy at their colleges with a cute little doggie by their side. Obviously it can work on other campuses.

Aren't  my doggies cute?

2)      Just because we allow dogs, doesn't mean we have to bend all the rules put in place by off-campus housing [whole/parts]. Some people believe that we’d have to do it for every apartment, but that simply isn't true [contradiction]. We can keep some sanctioned for “no-pet” housing, but allowing more dog-friendly apartments would be great! This is a minor rule that would greatly improve so many peoples’ lives! Why do you think people have “therapy dogs”?

3)      Along those lines, we don’t have to open it up to all animals, either [genus, species]. Forget stinky ferrets, mice, and even some cats. Let’s just start with loveable dogs.

4)      If we increased puppies around campus, we’d increase happiness, and decrease stress. This could completely improve test scores and overall well-being of students at BYU! [cause/effect].

5)      Clearly God approves of dogs [supernatural], or he wouldn't have put them on Earth for our enjoyment. We should honor His creations.

Okay- maybe that last point is a poor argument, since there are a lot of things on earth that we don’t allow in BYU approved housing…. But it was worth a try.

I can't say no to this cute puppy, either :)

Anyway, I know that could be a great addition to any apartment. I, for one, will definitely be getting a dog as soon as I can [future fact]; after all, as Charlie Brown says, “Happiness is a warm puppy” [maxim/proverb].

Comparatively Speaking...

I wish to analyze a few comparisons that Pericles makes in the Funeral Oration. Spencer explains well the differences made between Athens and Sparta. But I noticed additional comparisons which define differences and similarities between people in order to inflate Pericles' persuasive power.

To begin, Pericles makes a distinction between himself and "many of those who have spoken [at the public burial place] in the past" (72). He announces that his speech will be different than theirs--he will not "praise the institution of this speech", but instead he will speak about their ancestors; he will not "make a long speech on subjects familiar to [the Athenians]," but instead he will "discuss the spirit in which [they] faced [their] trials...[and] after that speak in the praise of the dead" (72-73). By declaring his speech to be more productive, relevant, and interesting than those speeches given in the past, Pericles automatically captures the curiosity of his audience (pathos) and makes himself appear more intelligent or skilled than those past speakers (ethos). 

Pericles paints himself as someone better than his predecessors, but he makes positive use of past peoples by expressing a similarity between the Athenians and their ancestors. He says that their fathers "added all the empire we have now" and that contemporary Athenians had also "added to the power of [the] empire" (73). Basically, he asserts that both groups contributed to the empire's success and increase. By drawing a resemblance between the audience and their mighty ancestors, reminding them of the commonality they share in the edification of Athens, Pericles reinforces the audience's devotion to the empire. 

There are even more comparisons between Athens' and the "neighbor's" system of government, recreation, love of beauty, decision-making process, and yes, the "general good feeling" of friendship and kindness. All to prove that Athens possesses a "greatness that surpasses what was imagined of her"--that she is better than all the rest. And I'm sure that, as Pericles says, "This is no empty boasting...but real tangible fact" (75). 

Pericles' Topics of Invention

Pericles’ Funeral Oration is chalked full of rhetorical ideals which were systematized by philosophers such as Aristotle. This analysis on Pericles’ ceremonial or epideictic address will focus on only a few of the rhetorical topics of invention put to use in the speech.

A depiction of a Spartan and Athenian soldier.

Comparison

Pericles uses the art of comparison for much of his funeral oration, and to great effect. He compares Athens to Sparta and spring boards from his comparisons to an all-out rally for Athenian pride. The power of the comparisons that Pericles makes come from pointing out the distinct differences from the Spartans to the Athenians and why these differences make the Athenians so much braver than the Spartans that fought in the war. For example Pericles points out how much braver the Athenians are for going to battle without the immense training that the Spartans get to go through. Within his comparisons Pericles also uses the topic of invention of measuring by degrees when he compares the strength of the Athenian armies to those of the Spartans by saying “As a matter of fact, none of our enemies has ever yet been confronted with our total strength, because we have to divide our attention between our navy and the many missions on which our troops are sent on land.”

Testimony

                There are moments where Pericles’ arguably puts this topic of invention to good use, but for the most part I feel that his oration lacks good use of testimony and want to address why using more of it might have strengthened his arguments. The parts that stick out to me where testimony is used is near the end of the speech where he makes reference to the parents of the dead. Although their words aren’t quoted directly Pericles uses them as witnesses to the arguments he makes about courage, war, and Athens. In a roundabout way I feel that he uses Athens as a similar “witness testimony”. At times in his oration Athens becomes more of an entity or individual, strengthening the ideas Pericles presents. This perhaps isn’t the best use of testimony, which is why it might have been better for Pericles to have used proverbs or authoritative testimony to really drive home his exhortation to the living. Through these other means of testimony Pericles could have really strengthened the end of his oration. 

A Little Bit of a Big Disconnect

Although I was able to engage and understand the play my personal “emotional investment” in it was low.  As I considered this, I quickly realized an essential part of both drama and public speaking in regards to “managing and mediating the irrational”; it must be experienced by the audience first hand.

What I mean by this is that the irrational remains irrational if the audience of those speaking do not vindicate the speaker. For example, Hecubas use of Mimesis caused many of the other characters as well as the audience to justify her irrationality.

Both drama and public speaking has the same purpose (as pointed out by Joseph Pearson); “to objectify, classify, and understand” the irrational or the event as a whole.

The differences found within these two parts is the way in which they arrive at the desired outcome.  While the application of drama (one could say mimesis generally speaking) brings a sense of connection and validation (therefore persuasion) to emotion, public speaking (rhetoric) allows one to explain and persuade using speech.  Drama seems to bring out so much emotion or, for lack of a better word, “drama” that one wants to connect emotionally with the individual. This being said, if that connection is not made as it was not for me in the playwright Hecuba than the irrational continues to look irrational. The same is true with public speaking; if one is unable to connect through the use of ethos, logos or pathos than the speech itself has no ability to put into context or rationalize the irrational.

Both methods of language require the audience or recipient to emotionally/mentally invest in the communication to manage or mediate the irrational. Without this connection the yelling and crying are just more yelling and crying and the words of persuasion are simply words unheard and therefore remain irrational. 

Irrationality = Rationality

In The Bakkhia, the rational Pentheus is destroyed
 by irrationality.

I am intrigued with Euripides’s use of the topic of invention, comparison.  The Bakkhia is chock-full of comparison and symbolism.  The most intriguing symbolism is that between men and women.  Women seem to represent chaos and irrationality, while men, specifically Pentheus, seem to represent order and rationality.  For example, the only revelers in Mount Kithairon are women.  The women are naked, suckle wolf cubs, and hunt with their bare hands.  That should not make sense to anyone, even in Greek times.  Furthermore they believe that Dionysus is a god.  By all reasonable thought, Dionysus should not exist.  However, irrationally, Dionysus was birthed again from Zeus’s thigh.  And when Dionysus showed up in Thebes, he was dressed with long hair like a women, furthering his irrationality.

Contrast that to Pentheus, who could be considered a symbol of Athens.  Athenians prided themselves on their rationality and logic.  Pentheus does not believe in the irrational.  He doesn’t think Dionysus exists.  He thinks that the irrational women should be put to death. Even though he leaves his manly rationality behind when he dresses as a woman, he does not accept it as a power.  His mother, Aguaë, a symbol for irrationality, destroys him.  His downfall, therefore, is not recognizing irrationality as a hugely powerful force that controls a bit of everyone’s life.

In writing this play, Euripides takes irrational thought and makes it tangible.  We can then deal 

Poetry allows me to express my irrational emotions
             in a rational way.

with it, and understand our erratic thoughts. If Pentheus represents Athens and Aguaë represents irrationality, Euripides is warning Athens to not become too rational because irrationality is a huge and powerful part of life.  I have always thought the best way to make something innately human and irrational into something tangible and rational is to personify it in the arts.  I think that is what Euripides is doing when he wrote The Bakkhia.  I, like Euripides have dealt with irrationality through writing.  I once got into a huge fight with my father.  After I stormed out of the house, I wrote this poem on my phone’s notepad.  It helped me be able to see my emotions in a tangible, understandable, and rational way while the poem itself is irrational.

Here it is:

Evaporation

Love-guilt spilled out of her mouth,

But he boiled it.  It turned to steam,

Unsure in its floating consistency

Until it became dry ash, undrinkable

Though it longed to be drunk.