Logos
The author wisely and effectively exploits the power of metaphorical language to explain the tools of rhetoric:
“If arguments were children, logos would be the brainy one, the big sister who argument gets top grades in high school.”
"The Eddie Haskell Ploy"
The author reaches back into 1950’s world of obsequious sitcom characters to give a metaphorical name to the argumentative ploy in which you willingly side with a position you know is going against you in order to create the illusion that you are making a virtuous sacrifice and thus gain at least something instead of losing everything.
Linking the Past and Present
The text is based on making a connection between the past and the present and the great literary tool of comparison—the simile—comes in hand for this purpose:
“We think of decorum as a fussy, impractical art, but the manuals the ancients wrote on decorum—covering voice control, gestures, clothing, and timing, as well as manners—touted the same themes as a modern best seller”
“wordplay, like a mind, is a terrible thing to waste”
The overarching tool of the author uses to explain rhetoric is, in fact, this linking of ancient thoughts to modern interpretation. Another powerful device for bringing the dead to life for modern readers is to engage their greater grasp on pop culture than ancient culture such as this example which metaphorically alludes to a well-known trope from a public service announcement of the 1970’s.
Quotes of the Famous the Author Uses, Yes
Since the entire premise of the book is to introduce the tools of rhetoric and how to use them to a new generation, the author turns to famous historical examples time and again. What is interesting is how he puts a new spin on some oft-quoted examples such as suggesting that the following quote attributed to Oscar Wilde—one of the most quotable writers ever—is at the same time and example of the rhetorical manner of speaking used by Yoda in which word order is reversed:
“Work is the curse of the drinking classes.”
