"I Listen to Their Story, They Listen to My Comments, and Then I Pocket My Fee:" Sherlock Holmes as Rhetorical Equipment for Living

Identifier

etd-04042016-175544

Author

Andrew Cessna Jones, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical CollegeFollow

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Communication Studies

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

This study argues that Sherlock Holmes serves as rhetorical equipment for living. Using Kenneth Burke’s theory of symbolic appeal and the critical tool proposed in the essay “Literature as Equipment for Living,” I explore how Holmes responds to the rhetorical situation of early nineteenth century England and consider why the Holmes symbol continues to appeal to audiences. I conclude that rhetoric is a necessary component of the Sherlock Holmes symbol and suggest that Holmes’s famous method is rhetorical rather than syllogistic.

Date

2016

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Recommended Citation

Jones, Andrew Cessna, ""I Listen to Their Story, They Listen to My Comments, and Then I Pocket My Fee:" Sherlock Holmes as Rhetorical Equipment for Living" (2016). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 2475.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/2475

Committee Chair

Crick, Nathan A

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.2475