The Aristotelian Triangle
The Greek philosopher Aristotle was one of the first to make a systematic study of the art of rhetoric. His great work Rhetoric was a systematic exploration of the ways language can be used to persuade or move people.
As a philosopher and scientist, Aristotle was always interested in understanding the ways things work, and in categorizing and numbering the different factors at play in any system or activity. His work on rhetoric was particularly insightful in considering the ways that the speaker addresses a particular audience, and the effect this interaction has on the subject. For this reason, we still refer to Aristotle today when we construct models of the rhetorical process. For example, here’s a diagram Hepzibah Roskelly uses to explain the rhetorical situation in an article on the official AP Language and Composition webpage: As Roskelly points out in the same AP article, some teachers like to go beyond Aristotle’s original concerns and add a circle to indicate context, like this:
In the same way, some teachers also add the word “Purpose” in the middle of the triangle. And these are only two examples of the many different ways people diagram the Rhetorical Situation.
[Source: Hepzibah Roskelly, “What Do Students Need to Know About Rhetoric?,” AP Central 2006.] Discussion Topic
Consider the different models of “Aristotle’s Triangle.” Why do you think people find it helpful to come up with a diagram or model for the different elements of the rhetorical situation? What does the triangle diagram suggest about the ways these elements influence one another? |