Question

despite the fact that Burke is a rhetorical critic who describes himself as a "word man," he's convinced that the creation of language began the downfall of the human race. Why?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You will definitely have to elaborate the answer based on your textbook readings given in the question and any case study you would like to apply.

(Answer) Kenneth Burke was a literary theorist from the 20^th century in America. He is known for his written work called “Definition of Man.” In this piece, he talks about the dynamics of language and how communication has shaped the very existence of man.

Burke describes man as the “symbol-using animal.” He talks about how he feels that man is the inventor of the negative and separated himself from the conditions of nature by his spirit of hierarchy and order. Burke also says that unlike other animals, man has begun to rot through his pursuit of perfection.

Burke reckons that all of these attributes that separate man from an uncomplicated and innocent natural order is his invention of communication. This is why Burke believes that even though he is a critic and a “word man”, the creation of language had led man away from nature and would hence be his downfall.