Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2002
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Communication Studies and Theatre
Abstract
This study is a Burkean analysis of President Roosevelt's December 8, 1941, declaration of war address and President Bush's September 20, 2001 address to a joint session of Congress. The study focusses on the language used by each President to justify military action to the American citizens. Burke's dramatistic pentad serves as the framework for this study. The study focusses on Burke's concept of spiritualization as identification. This is the use of God and devil words. Both war speeches met the criteria for constituting a dramatic analysis. Burke's rhetorical tools are employed to uncover the motives of each speaker. The analysis covers the rhetorical situations that transpired previous to the rhetorical discourse. The pentad provided similarities and differences between the act, scene, agent, agency, and purpose regarding each speech. The associational clusters were identified illustrating the President's use of God and devil words. The clusters were analyzed to see how each President victimized the enemy while portraying the United States as God.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Roosevelt, Franklin D (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 -- Oratory Bush, George W (George Walker), 1946- -- Oratory Political oratory -- United States Persuasion (Rhetoric) World War, 1939-1945 War on Terrorism, 2001-2009
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
115
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Kracht, Kristofer B., "A Burkean Analysis of the War Speeches of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush" (2002). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 919.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/919