Rhetorical Devices In William Faulkner's Speech

William Cuthbert Faulkner, Mississippi born author, took stage upon the winter of nineteen fifty to accept his Nobel Prize in Literature of nineteen forty-nine because of "his powerful and artistically unique contribution to the modern American novel". Despite having dropped out of school at an early age and only completing a single year in college, Faulkner’s career as a writer is well credible through awards not limited to the Nobel Prize for Literature. Some of which include two National Book Awards and two of the more well-known Pulitzer Prizes. Writing notorious novels such as The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying and Light in August, Faulkner cautiously celebrated his accomplishment with a message that will forever change the field of literature. Under his belt, Faulkner went on to write a vast collection of poems, short stories, and more. Throughout his speech, he used rhetorical devices such as tone, modes of persuasion and extrinsic proofs to directly convey his message, that of which was wildly neglected by many authors of literature until brought forward by Faulkner. His speech,
Unintentionally doing so, ethos as well as pathos is introduced within the first sentence by proving his unpretentious and humble behavior towards the award and event around him. This tone created a heartfelt, almost pitiful aroma to the audience, making his pungent speech that much more powerful. He exclaims that “[it] will not be difficult to find a dedication for the money part of it commensurate with the purpose and significance of its origin (1).” Going on he states his intended acclaim, hoping that his speech will encourage the youth of the time to someday be standing where he was standing, further inspiring more men and woman of the time they lived