Rhetoric Ch. 10: Pentadic Criticism

Pentadic Criticism

Also called dramatic criticism. Developed by Kenneth Burke, it examines an artifact by breaking it down into components of a drama (act,agent,agency,scene, and purpose.)

Action

1)Involves free choice, 2) purpose must be present though may be conscious or unconscious, 3) a motion/physical movement.

Assumptions

1) All human behavior is symbolic action.

2) Humans develop and present messages in similar ways to a play.

3) How we describe a situation indicates how we are perceiving it, the choices available to us, and the action we are likely to take in the situation.

4) Our language presents clues as to our motivations.

Artifact

Virtually any form of rhetoric can be used to study with dramatic criticism.

Pentad

Methodology used for examining life in relationships and human motivations using 5 drama terms: Act, agent, agency, scene, and purpose. Sometimes one may also study attitudes as a sixth component.

Act

Term from the pentad that is the event that took place. (What)

Agent

Term from the pentad that is the person that did the act. (Who)

Agency

Term from the pentad that is the means by which the agent did the act. (How)

Scene

Term from the pentad that is the environment and context surrounding the event. (Where and when)

Purpose

Term from the pentad that goes into the reason the event took place (why.)

Ratio

A comparison of two pentad terms to determine relationship and dominance of the two. By determining every possible combination, critic may decipher the most important aspect of the event. 20 possible pairings when applying each term.

Analysis

Process where pentadic criticism is used.

1) Label the pentad terms to elements in the artifact. Look for different ways to see it.

2) Apply ratios to determine the dominant term. Was the act, agent, agency, scene, or purpose the dominating or driving point to the event?

Step 1

Label the pentad terms to elements in the artifact. Look for different ways to see it.

Step 2

Apply ratios to determine the dominant term. Was the act, agent, agency, scene, or purpose the dominating or driving point to the event?