A Rhetorical Analysis Of Christmas Traditions By Hank Stuever
Hank Stuever utilizes many rhetorical devices to reinforce his point that Christmas traditions can be anything, they don’t have to be something that is seen as traditional. For example, shopping. It is important to both economics, and many family traditions. On page 308, he says that if people “pine for simpler Christmases of handmade toys and ornaments” so that they can go back to simpler times, then, “[It would] truly transport us back into the very world of the Depression-era American girl dolls.” This device is dichotomy because first it’s talking about going back to the simpler times that people made handmade gifts, and then suddenly the tone switches over to a dark world that would be the Depression-era. Stuever decides to use this to
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Why spend it [money]?’” Stuever then points out that regardless of that, she still “likes the tradition.” This is the rhetorical strategy of allegory, because there is a deeper meaning there. It connects to the overarching theme because it highlights the fact that shopping can indeed be a tradition. Even though Carroll feels as if no one wants anything big that’s going to be worth buying, she still likes the tradition. It’s a “wet and unappealing morning,” so it’s very easy for Carroll to just stay home and not spend any money, but it’s a tradition that her and her daughter, Marissa, have created and they thoroughly enjoy doing it together. They even say that it felt as if it wasn’t the same, but they still do it. It’s the same thing with a family that has a traditional tradition, such as a Christmas tree or Christmas lights. Every single year, regardless of how they feel or where they’re at, they are always going to put up a Christmas tree. Carroll and Marissa like the tradition of shopping, and they will continue to do it. Hank Stuever’s usage of various rhetorical strategies and devices helps reinforce his point that times have changed, and that anything, such as shopping, can be a tradition. More specifically, shopping is a tradition just as valid as putting up a Christmas tree, and carries legitimacy because of the economics, and how it brings a family
Why spend it [money]?’” Stuever then points out that regardless of that, she still “likes the tradition.” This is the rhetorical strategy of allegory, because there is a deeper meaning there. It connects to the overarching theme because it highlights the fact that shopping can indeed be a tradition. Even though Carroll feels as if no one wants anything big that’s going to be worth buying, she still likes the tradition. It’s a “wet and unappealing morning,” so it’s very easy for Carroll to just stay home and not spend any money, but it’s a tradition that her and her daughter, Marissa, have created and they thoroughly enjoy doing it together. They even say that it felt as if it wasn’t the same, but they still do it. It’s the same thing with a family that has a traditional tradition, such as a Christmas tree or Christmas lights. Every single year, regardless of how they feel or where they’re at, they are always going to put up a Christmas tree. Carroll and Marissa like the tradition of shopping, and they will continue to do it. Hank Stuever’s usage of various rhetorical strategies and devices helps reinforce his point that times have changed, and that anything, such as shopping, can be a tradition. More specifically, shopping is a tradition just as valid as putting up a Christmas tree, and carries legitimacy because of the economics, and how it brings a family