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Rhetoric
Within Pattern Analysis, rhetoric is the persuasive portion of a literary unit based on its structure. Certain locations within each literary unit are potentially persuasive–they are presented below for the sake of analysis. Normally, many of the potential locations can be persuasive, but often not all. The student is encouraged to listen to what the Holy Spirit seems to be emphasizing.
A step-like symmetry such as A-B-C-A'-B'-C' or A-B-C-X-A'-B'-C' structure where the themes are repeated in the same direction. A continuing structure is also possible such as A-B-C-A'-B'-C'-A''-B''-C'' (consider the ten plagues of Moses). Other names for this device are extended alternation, forward symmetry, panel construction, step parallelism, and in certain contexts simply named "parallelism." The most common locations for emphasis are in the last/last position and the X center point. Lesser common locations are the first/first position and the various corresponding elements.
In a parallel symmetry, these are the two A elements, A-B-C-A'-B'-C'. Sometimes these are a place of emphasis.
Also known as conjugate pairs. It is any two elements that are paired with each other. In some cases, the pair may be emphatic even though they are not in a position of emphasis such as first/first or first/last. For example, in a chiastic A-B-C-X-C'-B'-A' structure, the two B elements might add considerable conviction to the reader or listener.
In a parallel symmetry, this is oftentimes a place of emphasis. For example, in an A-B-C-D-A'-B'-C'-D' structure, the two D elements are in the last/last position.
A summarization that concludes a basic structure which is designated with the letters SUM. For example, A-B-C-A'-B'-C'-SUM. A closing summary is also known as a concluding epitome, final unit, and an epilogue. It serves two functions: to summarize and to motivate. It is always emphatic and should be easily detected.
This is a PARALLEL SYMMETRY about the first surgery from which a woman, his helper, emerged.
1) There is a CORRELATION OF SEQUENCES between the creation of the beasts and birds (A-B-C) and the creation of the woman (A′-B′-C′).
2) The FIRST/FIRST elements, A and A′, discuss man′s fundamental need: a helper.
3) The two B CORRESPONDING ELEMENTS discuss how they were formed: out of the ground for the beasts and birds, and out of a rib from the first man for the first woman.
4) The LAST/LAST elements are the naming of the two groups. While I don′t consider the naming of the living creatures and the naming of the woman to be overly emphatic, they are part of the persuasion.
5) The major emphasis seems to be found in the CLOSING SUMMARY, For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. That closing summary is quoted in Matthew 19:5 and elsewhere. Show More Rhetoric Show Less Rhetoric
PARALLEL SYMMETRY:
... man was given a helper ...
demarks a divine oracle
BEGINNING MARKER: Then the Lord God said, (v18A)
... beasts and birds were created ...
I will make him a helper
A
“It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” (v18B)
the Lord formed every beast and bird from the ground
B
Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, (v19A)
the man named these living creatures
C
and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, (v19B,20A)
... woman was created ...
no suitable helper
A′
but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. (v20B)
the Lord formed woman from man′s rib
B′
So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. (v21,22)
the man named her Woman
C′
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” (v23)
CLOSING SUMMARY: the man and his wife shall become one flesh
SUM
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. (v24)
a postscript
ENDING MARKER: And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (v25)