Compare the literary and rhetorical devices in Elie Wiesel's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech and his novel Night. Explain how these elements impact tone and mood. Support your claims with evidence from the text.
You write it, and someone here will critique it for you.
Whenever you are writing a comparison/contrast paper (paragraph, essay, research paper), you need to plan it out very carefully on paper first.
Try this:
1. Write all the information about one of your topics on one page.
2. Write all the information about the other topic on another page.
3. Then put them together in this order:
1. Intro
2. All about topic A
~~~2A. detail 1
~~~2B. detail 2
~~~2C. detail 3
~~~2D. detail 4
~~~2E. detail 5
3. All about topic B
~~~3A. detail 1
~~~3B. detail 2
~~~3C. detail 3
~~~3D. detail 4
~~~3E. detail 5
4. Concl.
The number of details for each topic will vary depending on your main points. I would include comparisons (how they are similar) in the introduction and conclusion, but sections 2 and 3 and all those details will be stating and explaining how they are different.
There are two recognized patterns for writing comparison/contrast papers. One is casually referred to as "zig-zag,” but can be very confusing for the reader if you don’t use transitions effectively. The other is topic-by-topic (which is what I've outlined above) and is much easier for the reader to follow.
See http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/comparcontrast.html for further help with comparison/contrast writing.
To compare the literary and rhetorical devices in Elie Wiesel's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech and his novel Night, you can start by first analyzing the texts separately and then examining how these devices impact the tone and mood in each work.
To begin, let's look at the literary devices used in both texts. Literary devices are techniques or figures of speech used by writers to enhance their writing and create a deeper impact on the reader. One common literary device used by Wiesel is imagery. In Night, Wiesel vividly describes the horrific scenes and experiences of the Holocaust, using powerful and vivid imagery to evoke emotions in the reader. For example, he writes, "Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night... Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever."
Similarly, in his Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Wiesel again employs imagery to convey his message. For instance, he says, "We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." Here, through the use of vivid imagery, Wiesel paints a clear picture in the reader's mind and strengthens his argument.
Another literary device used in both texts is symbolism. Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In Night, Wiesel uses the symbol of night itself to represent the darkness and evil of the Holocaust. The night becomes a recurring motif throughout the book, emphasizing the despair and hopelessness experienced by the prisoners. In his acceptance speech, Wiesel also employs symbolism, using the hour of dawn to symbolize the hope for a better future. He says, "Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately."
Moving on to rhetorical devices, these are techniques used to persuade or influence an audience through language. In Night, Wiesel effectively uses several rhetorical devices, including repetition and parallelism, to intensify his message. He repeats certain phrases and words, such as "Never shall I forget," to emphasis the lasting impact of the Holocaust on his life. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and helps to convey his emotions.
Similarly, in his acceptance speech, Wiesel employs rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos. He establishes his credibility and moral authority (ethos) as a survivor of the Holocaust, appeals to the emotions (pathos) of the audience by sharing personal stories and calling for action, and presents logical arguments (logos) to support his ideas. This combination of rhetorical devices enhances the persuasive power of his speech.
In terms of impact on tone and mood, the literary and rhetorical devices used by Wiesel play a crucial role. In Night, the vivid imagery and symbolism contribute to a somber and melancholic tone. The readers are immersed in the horrific experiences of the Holocaust, evoking feelings of sadness, despair, and horror. The literary devices used in Night create a dark and oppressive mood that reflects the atrocities Wiesel and others endured.
In his Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Wiesel's rhetorical devices contribute to a tone of conviction and urgency. The imagery and symbolism used in the speech, along with the repetition and parallelism, help create an atmosphere of determination and a call to action. The emotional appeal and logical arguments combine to generate a mood of determination, hope, and a sense of responsibility to prevent future atrocities.
In conclusion, the literary and rhetorical devices used by Elie Wiesel in his Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech and his novel Night serve different purposes but share common themes. The imagery, symbolism, repetition, and parallelism impact the tone and mood in each work, eliciting emotional responses from the reader and reinforcing the messages conveyed by Wiesel.