Emotional Appeals

Definition

Emotional appeals are persuasive techniques that evoke strong feelings in the audience to sway their opinions or actions. These appeals often leverage emotions like fear, hope, anger, or love to connect deeply with readers and motivate them to adopt a particular stance or take action. In literature and rhetoric, these techniques play a crucial role in engaging readers and driving home key messages.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' utilized emotional appeals by emphasizing the urgent need for independence from Britain, tapping into feelings of injustice and patriotism.
2. Jonathan Edwards' sermons employed fear as a powerful emotional appeal, warning listeners about the dangers of sin and the wrath of God to provoke a sense of urgency for salvation.
3. The Great Awakening saw an increase in emotional appeals in sermons, which aimed to create a personal connection between individuals and their faith, igniting passionate responses from congregations.
4. Political pamphlets often used emotional appeals to unify people around common causes, invoking feelings of fear or hope to rally support during critical moments in history.
5. Effective use of emotional appeals can enhance the persuasiveness of a text, making it resonate with readers on a personal level and compelling them to take action.

Review Questions

• How do emotional appeals function within Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' to persuade readers?
  • In 'Common Sense', emotional appeals are central to Paine's argument for independence. He evokes feelings of anger against British oppression and inspires hope for a free future. By appealing to the audience's emotions, Paine effectively motivates them to consider the necessity of revolution and unites them around the cause of American independence.
• In what ways did Jonathan Edwards utilize emotional appeals in his sermons to impact his audience during the Great Awakening?
  • Jonathan Edwards leveraged emotional appeals by vividly portraying the horrors of hell and the consequences of sin, aiming to instill fear in his listeners. His famous sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' is a prime example where he used graphic imagery and powerful language to provoke intense emotional reactions. This strategy led many to seek salvation fervently, demonstrating the profound impact of emotional persuasion on his audience.
• Evaluate the role of emotional appeals in shaping political discourse during the 18th century, particularly in pamphlets and persuasive writing.
  • Emotional appeals played a pivotal role in 18th-century political discourse by transforming abstract political ideas into relatable human experiences. Pamphleteers crafted narratives that invoked feelings of fear, pride, and urgency, making complex issues more accessible to ordinary citizens. This strategy not only rallied public support for various causes but also fostered a collective identity among individuals who resonated with shared emotions, ultimately shaping the political landscape leading up to significant events like the American Revolution.

Related terms

Pathos: A rhetorical device that appeals to the audience's emotions, often used to persuade by creating an emotional response.

Rhetoric: The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.

Persuasion: The act of convincing someone to believe or do something through reasoning or emotional appeals.