CREATIVE WRITING WITHIN THE GENRE OF THE SHORT STORY: INVESTIGATING THE PERSUASIVE POTENTIAL OF RHETORIC WITHIN THE CONFINES OF PATHETIC APPEAL

Abstract

What distinguishes the human being from other living animals is the singular ability to write. Recording on paper some of the myriad idiosyncrasies that govern our lives calls for a certain linguistic dexterity; one that allows the communication to be logically profound, ethically agreeable and persuasively emotive. Creative writing affords this opportunity. Where figurative language enriches the narrative, it is the rhet rical tools and devices that relay the message intended to lead to persuasion. Persuasion is one of the four classified modes of discourse that qualify creative writing; the others being description, exposition and narration. All the modes function together. The general focus of the study is on the rhetorical tools and devices that advance the art of persuasion. Concurrently, Aristotle’s rhetorical theory is applied as the theory of reference. This is a theory that maintains that any narrative must of necessity uphold the writer’s credibility (ethos), follow a logical sequence (logos) and offer psychological coercion (pathos). These literary proofs are conventionally referred to as ethical, logical and pathetic appeals. The study focuses on the significance of contemporary pathos in a particularized cultural environment in which the story is set. To achieve this, the study is informed by some social theories (to underscore how fiction portrays recognizable behavioral tendencies among the protagonists); by the classical theory (to highlight the progressive partitions of creative practice in this genre); and by a portion of Toulmin’s model of argumentation for the sake of brevity as well as for more obvious reasons, argumentation being an integral part of persuasion. This is a mixed practices research study. It qualifies as practice-based research where a creative artefact (in this case the main study’s storyline) is the basis of the contribution to knowledge. (Candy L., 2006). Concurrently it is also a practice-led research since the research leads primarily to new understanding about the nature of being linguistically selective in order to intentionally give primacy to pathetic appeal (see the annexed anthology). In this case, knowledge is advanced not just about this creative practice but within it as well. It’s a study which falls in the general area of active research. The research design comprised of questions that are descriptive and qualitative, where non-numerical elements like feelings and emotions are interpreted. The methodology is flexible and investigative. Findings in the study have highlighted that deliberate use of certain rhetorical tools and devices can be utilized by the writer, not just to create an emotive impact but to do so in varying degrees. The one graphic story within the study brought out comparative deductions between the genders as well as those who read short stories in English with native speaker and non-native speaker competencies. Generally, native speakers are capable of indifference when reading where second-language speakers are more apt to be affected by the graphic nature of the storyline. Additionally maintaining interest in a storyline is paramount to achieving a constant level of persuasion; this is a proof surrogate.