Analysis of William Faulkners Nobel Prrize of Literarure Speech
Caitlyn Buteaux
Mrs. Parham
English III AP 1st block
4 February 2013
Analysis of William Faulkner’s Noble Prize of Literature Acceptance Speech William Faulkner was an often misunderstood writer of many novels and short stories. ("William Faulkner’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech ") It was not until 1949 and after his death when he was given the Nobel Prize in Literature that people began to acknowledge him and his works. ("William Faulkner") In his Nobel Prize of Literature acceptance speech, at the city hall in Stockholm on December 10, 1950, Faulkner uses a powerful tone and effective rhetorical devices to convey his purpose. In his Nobel Prize of Literature acceptance speech, William Faulkner utilizes rhetorical devices such as persuasive appeals, figurative language, syntax, tone, and diction to aid in his effectiveness of his speech.
In his speech Faulkner employs ethos and pathos throughout it. In the beginning, he starts his speech by using ethos, speaking of his work and him separately, showing he can speak highly of his work without sounding arrogant, such as “I feel this award was not made to me as a man, but to my work – a life’s work in the agony and sweat of the human spirit, not for the glory and least of all for profit…”. He coveys pathos by asking his audience to reflect on the tragedies of the universe but them reminding them toward the end of his speech that man will prevail, for example “Our tragedy today is the general and universal physical fear so long sustained by now that we can even bear it… Until he relearns these things, he will write as though he stood among and watched the end of man… I refuse to accept this. I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail”. This aids him in the effectiveness of his speech by showing he possesses upright morals and is able to connect emotionally and personally to his audience.
William Faulkner uses figurative language to convey his vivid message to his audience. In the second
Mrs. Parham
English III AP 1st block
4 February 2013
Analysis of William Faulkner’s Noble Prize of Literature Acceptance Speech William Faulkner was an often misunderstood writer of many novels and short stories. ("William Faulkner’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech ") It was not until 1949 and after his death when he was given the Nobel Prize in Literature that people began to acknowledge him and his works. ("William Faulkner") In his Nobel Prize of Literature acceptance speech, at the city hall in Stockholm on December 10, 1950, Faulkner uses a powerful tone and effective rhetorical devices to convey his purpose. In his Nobel Prize of Literature acceptance speech, William Faulkner utilizes rhetorical devices such as persuasive appeals, figurative language, syntax, tone, and diction to aid in his effectiveness of his speech.
In his speech Faulkner employs ethos and pathos throughout it. In the beginning, he starts his speech by using ethos, speaking of his work and him separately, showing he can speak highly of his work without sounding arrogant, such as “I feel this award was not made to me as a man, but to my work – a life’s work in the agony and sweat of the human spirit, not for the glory and least of all for profit…”. He coveys pathos by asking his audience to reflect on the tragedies of the universe but them reminding them toward the end of his speech that man will prevail, for example “Our tragedy today is the general and universal physical fear so long sustained by now that we can even bear it… Until he relearns these things, he will write as though he stood among and watched the end of man… I refuse to accept this. I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail”. This aids him in the effectiveness of his speech by showing he possesses upright morals and is able to connect emotionally and personally to his audience.
William Faulkner uses figurative language to convey his vivid message to his audience. In the second
Cited: "Mr. Newman 's Digital Rhetorical Symposium." William Faulkner’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech . Simple template, 05 10 2010. Web. 4 Feb 2013. <http://newmanrhetoric.blogspot.com/2010/10/william-faulkners-nobel-prize.html>. William Faulkner. eNotes, n.d. Web. 4 Feb 2013. <http://www.enotes.com/william-faulkner-essays/faulkner-william-79720>.