Still Busy

So I definitely lied about posting about all that crap and Fermilab. Guess I just kept getting distracted.

Anyway, I still can’t write a lot because I have finals tomorrow and Wednesday. BUT, I promise I will post after finals, before the week is over.  I have a lot to say.

Ton of Homework

So I definitely picked a bad time to start a blog… I have a crapload of homework to do. I have like four tests to study for for Friday, I have my NHS application, a bunch of homework, etc.

But yeah, after I’m done, I’ll definitely post about it. Ah and I have to post about my field trip to Fermilab. 

When I have time…

Edwards’s Faith-Revealing Rhetoric

Jonathan Edwards, a powerful colonial American Congregational speaker from the 18th century, had many popular works, one of the most popular being “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” This speech is a prime example of a typical sermon during the Great Awakening, corner stoning the fact that Hell is a real, functional place. In the speech, Edwards explains God’s wrath to his listeners with immense aggression and anger. Using horrific, vivid imagery, and other rhetorical strategies, Edwards unashamedly reveals his strong faith in God. 

One of the major rhetorical strategies used in this work is the use of alliteration. In the following lines, Edwards uses a series of words with an ‘f’ sound: “If God should only withdraw His hand from the floodgate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God, would rush forth with inconceivable fury” (80). Clearly, the ‘f’ sounds dominate this sentence. These ‘f’ sounds allow Edwards to place immense emphasis on each word, increasing the impact of the horrific biblical imagery. While the use of alliteration certainly helped Edwards reveal his faith, imagery was equally important in this work.

Edwards’s use of imagery helps describe God’s wrath: “[T]he lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God” (81). Edwards does an excellent job of using his rhetoric to paint vivid, horrifying images of Hell, and God’s wrath. Edwards hopes to scare his audience away from sin, and into the light. Edwards believes that if he creates a strong enough fear of Hell in the audience’s mind, then they will repent, and ultimately go to Heaven.

Finally, Edwards uses repetition to resound a rhythm of hopelessness in the audience: “[N]othing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do” (81). The repetitive use of the word “nothing” burns into the audience’s brain that they are worthless in the eyes of God, and nothing that they can do will free them from their eternal damnation. Through repeating such fearful, negative words multiple times, Edwards creates a sense of fear in the audience’s mind, hopefully causing them to repent.

As you can clearly see, Edwards uses his ability to express himself with rhetoric to reveal his faith in God. Through sounds, imagery, and repetition, Edwards develops an overall sense of fear of Hell in the audience’s mind. Through this, Edwards hopes to force those affected by the speech to turn to God, and repent. Edwards has definitely had an effect on the way that modern speeches are given. His speech was certainly explosive to the people of the 18th century, but not to people of other eras. Edwards has shown that it is necessary to be aware of your potential audience in order for your speech to be successful.

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

So I have a paper due tomorrow. Here’s the prompt:

“In the excerpt from “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Jonathan Edwards gives a powerful sermon to an 18th Century congregation. Read the Edwards passage carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical strategies Edwards uses to reveal his faith or skepticism.”

I wish the cable would go out so I could stop watching football… Today is actually perfect to write a paper; it’s a gloomy, rainy, 50° F day outside. I wrote my introductory paragraph, and kinda ‘hit a wall.’ Maybe I should just suck it up and keep writing.

Alright, here goes. I’ll post it when I’m finished.

Hello world!

Hey world, blah blah, sup.

So last night was homecoming… fun stuff. Brandi and I went to TL’s for dinner, which was ridiculously good… We both had teriyaki beef with white rice. I think that was the first time I ate something other than sushi there. Tony said not to order sushi because they were pre-making it to keep up with the homecoming rush, so it wouldn’t be as fresh as normal. But yeah, so we ate some steak then headed out to the dance. The line was out to the freaking curb, and it was really cold. After about 15 minutes, we got inside, and had our bags and stuff checked in… The dance was basically lame, but fun. I dunno how to describe it. Brandi and I just kinda chilled toward the back, etc. etc… We had our pictures taken, then split around 9:00pm, an hour early. We went back to my house and watched a movie, and talked… you know. I hadn’t seen her in about a week, so that was awesome… she left around 11:30pm, and now I’m just chilling, watching TV, makin’ websites, avoiding homework… annnd my eyes are about to close…

Zzz…