Rhetorical Analysis Of `` What The Hell Is Water `` By...

Famed American author David Foster Wallace gave a commencement speech to Kenyon College’s graduating class of 2005. Most commencement speeches focus on graduates’ accomplishments as well as give general life advice. Wallace’s presentation follows this pattern at first, congratulating the students on getting their diplomas. However, most of his speech is dedicated to the idea of thinking beyond ourselves. Throughout the speech, Wallace argues we should live with empathy through his use of humor and appeals to the audience’s empathy. The introduction quickly introduces the humorous tone found throughout the piece with his use of anecdotes. In the opening anecdote, two young fish fail to recognize that they are surrounded by water. By juxtaposing the academic setting with the fish exclaiming â€Å"what the hell is water?† the speaker creates humor with the fish’s unexpected colloquialism. Furthermore, Wallace connects the irony of the fish anecd ote with the that of most adults, who are unable to see what really matters in life just as the fish can not see the water that encompasses them. The speaker follows this story with another about an atheist and a theist arguing about the existence of God. By refusing to see the other’s perspective, Wallace shows the humor in their rigid belief systems. The speaker also pokes fun at his liberal arts audience by asking why they accept both men’s position without questioning their rationale for doing so. By doing so, Wallace displays audienceShow MoreRelatedEssay about Wallace Rhetorical Analysis1393 Words   |  6 PagesA Rhetorical Analysis of â€Å"This is Water† If one were to try to imagine a world without air, then it would certainly be very different than the world as humans know it. Since air is essential to the livelihood of most life on Earth, it could be considered an â€Å"important reality.† In David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech, â€Å"This is Water† to the 2005 graduating class of Kenyon College, Wallace states that â€Å"the most obvious, ubiquitous, important realities are often the ones that are the hardestRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesOrganizational Behavior that helps you actively study and prepare material for class. Chapter-by-chapter activities, including built-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Kim S. Cameron UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Prentice Hall Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam