Rhetorical Devices Used in Sophie

The Greek philosopher Aristotle applied the literary devices of ethos, logos and pathos, to fiction , synthesizing rhetorical devices which are utilized as a technique for persuasion. Ethos consists of an author's degree of credibility or status. Humans tend to acquire bias views of messages told by communities they trust, such as their their best friend, and it only seems natural. The next rhetorical device, logos, is more scientific, as it applies straight up facts, or graphs to manipulate or brainwash the reader into believing that this data originates from absolute accuracy and truth since it is so logical. But Aristotle admits that pathos is the strongest rhetorical device, since it reaches out to our hearts and arouses certain emotions.Although numerous rhetorical devices are practiced in the stories of “Vancouver Short Stories” I will only briefly discuss my personal favorite one. The short story, “ Sophie ” might be first acknowledged and appear familiar due to the fact that it is composed by Emily Carr who is a very prominent and applauded author in literature, and who also has a university named after her. Emily Carr's level of authority is an example of ethos. She also utilizes pathos very much in this short story, allowing the reader to feel deep sorrow and pity for Sophie who continuously requires to hold funerals for her young children and who's husband does not treat very well. I enjoy the fact that Emily Carr names streets after real ones in North Vancouver, which makes the story seem much more realistic, and that could be her way of using logos.