Rhetorical Analysis Of Amy Poehler's Speech

Rhetorical appeals, syntax, and tone drive a piece of writing or speech and create the full effect of the text. The appeals in writing provide connection between speaker and audience. Use of syntax, the word order, influences the effect and overall meaning of the text. The tone, the general attitude of the piece, influences how the reader or audience perceives what is being said. In Amy Poehler effectively utilizes rhetorical appeals like pathos, syntax, and tone (in her Harvard University Class Day Commencement Address, delivered May 26, 2011) to provide light humor, wit, and inspiration to Harvard graduates.
Amy Poehler’s speech contains numerous examples of the rhetorical appeals –particularly pathos. Her humor appeals to the audience’s sentiments, as well as her more serious comments, which lean to the side of providing advice for the graduates. She says,
Poehler provides serious life advice –the inspirational part –but keeps the tone light with her witty, dry humor. Right from the opening, her tone is sarcastic and comedic: “Friends, Romans, countrymen: lend me your beers.” Most serious comments are tinted with the humorous tone of a previous comment. Thus, no one listening to the speech could find themselves bored, but could most definitely take a little inspiration with them. Poehler manages to keep the tone light whilst impressing upon the audience ideas and inspiration that will guide them through later life. Amy Poehler’s speech at Harvard accomplished the feat of approaching a group of learned scholars with humor and wit, all he while providing inspirational advice. The content of the speech was not the only reason it was effective. Amy Poehler’s use of rhetorical appeals, syntax, and tone created the perfect storm in the realm of humor and inspiration, all rolled into one commencement address, which surely left Harvard scholars refreshed, inspired, and ready to take on the