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Chapter 3. The doubling of design in Walter Nash’s Rhetoric

The Wit of Persuasion
  • David E. Stacey
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Style, Rhetoric and Creativity in Language
This chapter is in the book Style, Rhetoric and Creativity in Language

Abstract

This chapter takes as its point of departure a simple diagram which appears at the beginning of Walter Nash’s (1989) Rhetoric: The Wit of Persuasion. As argued, this diagram offers a key to understanding Nash’s unique conception of classical, renaissance and modern rhetoric. Focusing upon the rhetorical canon of taxis/disposition, or arrangement, the chapter explores how Nash celebrates the skill of writers of canonical literary texts, and of canny speakers in everyday situations, to design powerful schemes of persuasion. It is suggested that listeners and readers appreciate the aesthetic realization of language designed to persuade. The author observes how Nash’s approach is to encourage receivers of language actively to take power in rhetorical situations by parodying and rewriting, in order to critically understand and creatively revise these schemes of persuasion. These observations are complemented by an analysis of a press conference held by US President Donald Trump’s first press secretary, Sean Spicer.

Abstract

This chapter takes as its point of departure a simple diagram which appears at the beginning of Walter Nash’s (1989) Rhetoric: The Wit of Persuasion. As argued, this diagram offers a key to understanding Nash’s unique conception of classical, renaissance and modern rhetoric. Focusing upon the rhetorical canon of taxis/disposition, or arrangement, the chapter explores how Nash celebrates the skill of writers of canonical literary texts, and of canny speakers in everyday situations, to design powerful schemes of persuasion. It is suggested that listeners and readers appreciate the aesthetic realization of language designed to persuade. The author observes how Nash’s approach is to encourage receivers of language actively to take power in rhetorical situations by parodying and rewriting, in order to critically understand and creatively revise these schemes of persuasion. These observations are complemented by an analysis of a press conference held by US President Donald Trump’s first press secretary, Sean Spicer.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. An indicative list of publications by Walter Nash 9
  6. Chapter 1. “Warmth of thought” in Walter Nash’s prose and verse 11
  7. Chapter 2. Chrysanthemums for Bill 37
  8. Chapter 3. The doubling of design in Walter Nash’s Rhetoric 57
  9. Chapter 4. Riddling: The dominant rhetorical device in W. H. Auden’s “The Wanderer” 77
  10. Chapter 5. “My Shakespeare, rise” 85
  11. Chapter 6. Discourse presentation and point of view in “Cheating at Canasta” by William Trevor 101
  12. Chapter 7. Doing and teaching 113
  13. Chapter 8. Fact, fiction and French flights of fancy 127
  14. Chapter 9. Common Language 149
  15. Chapter 10. “Americans don’t do Irony” 171
  16. POEM
  17. Defunct Address 193
  18. Name index 195
  19. Subject index 199
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.34.05sta

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. An indicative list of publications by Walter Nash 9
  6. Chapter 1. “Warmth of thought” in Walter Nash’s prose and verse 11
  7. Chapter 2. Chrysanthemums for Bill 37
  8. Chapter 3. The doubling of design in Walter Nash’s Rhetoric 57
  9. Chapter 4. Riddling: The dominant rhetorical device in W. H. Auden’s “The Wanderer” 77
  10. Chapter 5. “My Shakespeare, rise” 85
  11. Chapter 6. Discourse presentation and point of view in “Cheating at Canasta” by William Trevor 101
  12. Chapter 7. Doing and teaching 113
  13. Chapter 8. Fact, fiction and French flights of fancy 127
  14. Chapter 9. Common Language 149
  15. Chapter 10. “Americans don’t do Irony” 171
  16. POEM
  17. Defunct Address 193
  18. Name index 195
  19. Subject index 199
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