Questions on Rhetoric and Style

1. How does Rice’s lede set the stage for the story?

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   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: How does Rice’s lede set the stage for the story?
2. What assumptions does Rice make about his readership? How can you tell?

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   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: What assumptions does Rice make about his readership? How can you tell?
3. Characterize the tone of “The Four Horsemen.” Is the tone consistent throughout, or does it change over the course of the piece?

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   WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=

   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Characterize the tone of “The Four Horsemen.” Is the tone consistent throughout, or does it change over the course of the piece?
4. Rice was known for his poetic style. Certainly metaphors are a hallmark of that style. Identify at least four metaphors, and describe their effects.

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   WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=

   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Rice was known for his poetic style. Certainly metaphors are a hallmark of that style. Identify at least four metaphors, and describe their effects.
5. Remembering that few of his readers would have seen the game he is describing, consider how Rice re-creates the event for his readers. Look carefully at his descriptions of the scene and the fans, as well as his description of the game.

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   WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=

   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Remembering that few of his readers would have seen the game he is describing, consider how Rice re-creates the event for his readers. Look carefully at his descriptions of the scene and the fans, as well as his description of the game.
6. Rice calls Notre Dame (from South Bend, Indiana) “West” or “Westerners” repeatedly (paras. 8–10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 22). He calls the Army team (from West Point, New York) “East” only once (para. 22). Why might he have characterized Notre Dame as the western team (even though Indiana is in the Midwest)? Why do you think he only calls Army “East” once?

   Question

   WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=

   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Rice calls Notre Dame (from South Bend, Indiana) “West” or “Westerners” repeatedly (paras. 8–10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 22). He calls the Army team (from West Point, New York) “East” only once (para. 22). Why might he have characterized Notre Dame as the western team (even though Indiana is in the Midwest)? Why do you think he only calls Army “East” once?
7. With few exceptions, Rice identifies the players—even the “Four Horsemen”—by last name only. What is the effect of that decision?

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   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: With few exceptions, Rice identifies the players—even the “Four Horsemen”—by last name only. What is the effect of that decision?
8. In the New Testament of the Bible, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are summoned forth when Jesus opens a scroll that is closed with seven seals. As he opens the first four seals, four riders come forth, representing Conquest, War, Famine, and Death—the apocalyptic vision of the Last Judgment. Rice surely was alluding to the Bible but may have also been referring to a popular silent film of 1921, called The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, starring matinee idol Rudolph Valentino. How do these allusions help Rice re-create the thrilling game?

   Question

   WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=

   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: In the New Testament of the Bible, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are summoned forth when Jesus opens a scroll that is closed with seven seals. As he opens the first four seals, four riders come forth, representing Conquest, War, Famine, and Death—the apocalyptic vision of the Last Judgment. Rice surely was alluding to the Bible but may have also been referring to a popular silent film of 1921, called The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, starring matinee idol Rudolph Valentino. How do these allusions help Rice re-create the thrilling game?
9. Rice’s extravagant style may feel overblown to us now, but he comes from a storytelling tradition that characterized sportswriting in the early twentieth century. According to David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer of Vince Lombardi, sportswriters like Rice “served as the nation’s tribe of storytellers, popular artists invested with enormous powers to reinforce cultural mores and shape the public imagination.” In what ways does “The Four Horsemen” reinforce cultural mores and shape the public’s imagination? What rhetorical strategies does Rice use to make his story so influential?

   Question

   WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=

   Chapter 9 - The Four Horsemen - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Rice’s extravagant style may feel overblown to us now, but he comes from a storytelling tradition that characterized sportswriting in the early twentieth century. According to David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer of Vince Lombardi, sportswriters like Rice “served as the nation’s tribe of storytellers, popular artists invested with enormous powers to reinforce cultural mores and shape the public imagination.” In what ways does “The Four Horsemen” reinforce cultural mores and shape the public’s imagination? What rhetorical strategies does Rice use to make his story so influential?