Rhetoric
in Brutus and Antony’s
funeral speeches
Act 3, Scene 2, Julius Caesar
1
The play is about
the assassination
of Julius Caesar.
A textbook on rhetoric
Rhetoric:
the art of persuasion
4
ethical
appeal
emotional
appeal
Pathos
Ethos
the speaker’s
credibility
and authority
Logos
logical
appeal
antithesis
anaphora
parallelism
Rhetorical
Devices
repetition
irony
rhetorical
question
The purpose of Brutus’s speech:
to justify Caesar’s murder
Be patient till the last.
hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may
hear: believe me for
,
and have respect to
that you may believe: censure me in your
and awake your
,
judge
that you may the better
.
If there be any in this assembly,
any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say, that
.
If then that friend demand why Brutus
rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
--
rhetorical
question
parallel
structure
Caesar were
that Caesar were
and
,
, to live
?
loved me, weep for him;
was fortunate, rejoice at it;
was valiant,
was
him:
,
slew him.
repetition
There is tears for his love;
joy for his fortune;
honour for his valour;
and death for his ambition.
repetition
parallel
here so base that would be a bondman?
, speak; for him have I offended.
here so rude that would not be a Roman?
,, speak; for him have I offended.
here so vile that will not love his country?
anaphora/
repetition
, , speak; for him have I offended.
I pause for a reply.
dramatic pause
pathos
emotion
patriotism
rhetorical
questions
Then none have I offended.
recorded
The question of his death
is
in the Capitol;
his glory not
,
he was worthy,
for which
nor his offences
for which he suffered death.
dramatic irony
understated
exaggerated
Here comes his body,
mourned by Mark Antony:
not
involved
who, though he had no
hand in his death, shall
receive the benefit of his
dying, a place in the
commonwealth;
With this I depart,-that, as
All
Live, Brutus! live, live!
First Citizen
Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
Second Citizen
Give him a statue with his ancestors.
Third Citizen
Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Citizen
Caesar's better parts
Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
Questions
1.
2.
18
What could be the flaws in Brutus’s speech?
If you were Mark Antony, what would you say to outdo
Brutus’s speech and turn the crowd against him?
Thanks!
Any questions?
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zhujinghbu@aliyun.com
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