Definition
Rhetorical Analysis is when you are reading a text and taking into account all of the rhetorical elements that make the text.
Significance
Rhetorical Analysis is important to understand because when you analyze rhetorical elements an author uses in their texts, it gives more understanding in the point that they are trying to get across. Without rhetorical analysis, you can miss points an author is trying to emphasize, and how they are trying to appeal to their audience with rhetorical devices. A text can seem useless or boring if the devices are not analyzed. In our everyday lives, rhetorical analysis is similar to reading people’s body language in order to know how they are feeling or what they are trying to tell you. People use rhetorical elements such as hyperbole, metaphors, similes, and irony in conversations all the time, so analyzing conversations will help you understand the way people express themselves.
Examples- When Rhetorical Analysis is Needed
Talking to People: As I said in the significance, when people talk, they use various elements such as irony, hyperboles, and more. In order to understand what people are saying, you’ll need to look deeper into the rhetorical devices they use.
Reading a Book: When reading, an author is going to use various rhetorical elements such as setting, context, ETHOS, PATHOS, and LOGOS, to effectively convey a message to their audience.
Watching a Movie: Even though a film may not be obvious about it, they use multiple rhetorical elements to convey a deeper meaning. Films can use songs, reoccurring themes, symbolism, and more to get people thinking about the hidden message.