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The Devil in the White City Rhetorical Analysis

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The Devil in the White City Rhetorical Analysis

The Devil in the White City is a nonfiction novel written by Erik Larson. The author uses

extensive research to reconstruct the lives of two men and reinvent Chicago at the times of the

Global Columbian Description. In this book, the author has applied various rhetorical devices to

achieve his message, purpose, or effect. This essay discusses some of the rhetorical devices used

by Larson to convey his message and meet his goal and impact.

First, the author uses description and narration devices. One of the best examples of

description is found on page 344, paragraph 2 of the Novel. This paragraph describes the current

situation point in the period. "The sun was high, was streets steamed." Larson demonstrates the

setting of the streets on that day. This allows the person to read the story to get engaged in the

text. The author has also used the narration in the entire book. This allows the reader to get

involved positively. Through making someone reading the text and telling the story to the reader

makes the person reading the book to become more engaged and confident about the book.

Second, the Novel is persistent with the use of sensory diction and color. The author of

the Novel uses this device to decorate the picture literally because this happened when coloring

of photos did not occur. The author says that if the photographers were able to see anything in

Mudgett's eyes, they could see a pale emptiness that he understood to his distress, and no film

was able to record this incidence. (pg. 40). The above example not only attracts to pathos by

allowing the reader to feel being creeped out but also portrays the insanity versus sanity theme.

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Using pf emptiness and pale blue description, the authors bring the impression of the fault of

clear thing with that guy. If used another color like blue, the same effect would not have been

portrayed. The application of sensory diction has been widely used in the Novel to make sure

that there is prominent imagery in the Novel. The author of the Novel's color helps the reader get

a clear understanding of the real things that were present in the Novel. It ensures that the story

looks real, and it can be compared with the current situations.

Third, the author used metaphors and similes throughout the Novel. The rhetorical

devices of similes and metaphors enable the reader to have a greater understanding of the nature

of the characters in the book. Larson describes Burnham as a handsome, strong, tall guy with

vivid blue eyes, which drew friends and clients close to him the same way lens gathers light (pg.

26). The metaphor used here makes the reader see Burnham as a beloved and positive guy,

similar to which Chicago citizens saw him. When discussing Holmes, the author says that he

rolled down his sleeves and removed the apron. He continues and says his strong arousal made

him feel being light-headed. The author says that the sensation as continually was enjoyable and

persuaded him warm laziness, similar to a feeling that he got when sat for a long time in Infront

of a burning stove (pg. 148). This metaphor makes the reader of the Novel get a psychopathic

image of Holmes as well as the way antihero he looks like. The application of the devices of

literature used helps the reader connect the comparison between the two main actors.

Fourth, the author pleas to pathos through reading the journal by Holmes. Holmes wrote

that he was born with the devil in him. He claims that he could not assist the truth that he was a

killer, and no more than a poet could assist the motivation to sing. Through the inclusion of this

pathos, the reader feels that Holmes was not able to assist himself, and it was not through his

actions that contributed to this advice of killing. Through saying this, a plea of emotional effect

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Surname 1 Student Name Professor’s Name Course Title Date The Devil in the White City Rhetorical Analysis The Devil in the White City is a nonfiction novel written by Erik Larson. The author uses extensive research to reconstruct the lives of two men and reinvent Chicago at the times of the Global Columbian Description. In this book, the author has applied various rhetorical devices to achieve his message, purpose, or effect. This essay discusses some of the rhetorical devices used by Larson to convey his message and meet his goal and impact. First, the author uses description and narration devices. One of the best examples of description is found on page 344, paragraph 2 of the Novel. This paragraph describes the current situation point in the period. "The sun was high, was streets steamed." Larson demonstrates the setting of the streets on that day. This allows the person to read the story to get engaged in the text. The author has also used the narration in the entire book. This allows the reader to get involved positively. Through making someone reading the text and telling the story to the reader makes the person reading the book to become more engaged and confident about th ...
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Tags: The Devil in the White City Erik Larson Global Columbian Description sensory diction American Novels