Essay2
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Nov 24, 2024
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1
101—Composition and Rhetoric
Assignment: Essay 2 Critical Reading of Rhetorical Strategies
Name:
Student Id:
2
Title: A Critical Reading of Rhetorical Strategies in Gerald Callahan's
"Chimera"
Creative nonfiction, and the essay within it, has a special position in the world of
literature because it gives authors the freedom to dive deeply into their own lives, create
stories that reflect on those lives, and investigate the complex web of relationships that binds
the individual to the larger world. In this critical examination, we will explore essays by two
renowned writers, Brian Doyle and Gerald Callahan, concentrating on Callahan's "Chimera."
Specifically, we want to know whether Callahan's article fits Doyle's ideal of a fantastic piece
of writing. We'll examine the rhetorical moves made throughout "Chimera" and see how well
they measure up to Doyle's standards so that we may put an end to this confusion.
Our analysis is predicated on Doyle's claim that in order to be really exceptional, an
essay must have elements such as first-person tales and reflections, a focus on memory and
emotion, the use of creative nonfiction methods, and the painting of vivid images via the
skillful use of language. The success of "Chimera" in meeting these standards will be
assessed by examining it through this lens. We will analyze "Chimera" to see if it meets our
own standards for the personal/nature essay and to see if it follows Brian Doyle's model of a
fantastic essay. Our goals in doing this dual analysis are to better understand "Chimera" as a
literary work and to determine how well it stands up to both Doyle's and our own high
standards.
One of the hallmark features of a spectacular essay, according to Brian Doyle, is the
infusion of personal experience and reflection. Doyle is of the opinion that one's own
experiences can act as a gateway to more profound and general truths. This tactic may be
seen throughout "Chimera," which is written by Callahan. A personal experience serves as the
jumping off point for the essay: Callahan's ex-wife is seen entering a bakery. Readers are
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drawn into the story by the initial hook in the narrative, which makes good use of the author's
personal experience as a basis for further investigation.
Doyle places a heavy emphasis on the necessity for essays to be saturated with
memory and emotion, since this can elicit a powerful emotional reaction from readers. The
song "Chimera" by Callahan is not lacking in any way with relation to this. The essay dives
into memories, including the memory of the author's exe-wife who has since passed away,
and investigates the psychological effect that such recollections have. This absorption in
memory and feeling satisfies Doyle's requirements, as he had anticipated.
According to Doyle, a remarkable essay is one that utilizes creative nonfiction
approaches in order to express real-life events. The author, Callahan, used creative nonfiction
to great effect in this work by interweaving scientific information, personal tales, and
philosophical musings into the story. The essay is elevated to a higher intellectual plane by
the incorporation of scientific notions such as immunology and phantom memories;
nonetheless, the essay does not lose its creative and personal core as a result of this.
Doyle places a premium on language that is evocative as well as vivid, one that is able
to construct a picture of a full and multisensory experience for the reader. The writing style
that Callahan uses in "Chimera" brings to mind this ideal. He explains the sensory
experiences of the world that he is surrounded by, such as the aroma of cinnamon and the
fragrance of raindrops, as well as the complicated patterns that swallows take. Such
descriptions appeal to the readers' senses, making the narrative more immersive and
emotionally resonant.
Doyle places a strong emphasis on the significance of essays that demonstrate how
personal experiences can shed light on universal truths. This objective is accomplished by the
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novel "Chimera" through an examination of the permanency of emotions, the universality of
memory, and the human propensity to recreate and reinvent the past. The narrative of
Callahan draws attention to the universal features of the human experience, so connecting
readers to their own recollections and feelings.
Doyle believes that in order to be outstanding, an essay ought to make the reader feel
something. This is an area in which "Chimera" is successful because it is able to evoke
feelings such as loss, grief, and the continued presence of departed loved ones in our memory.
The emotional impact is a key strength of the essay, in line with Doyle's expectations.
Although Doyle does not expressly address the use of scientific concepts into essays, I
feel that doing so lends a greater sense of depth and mystery to personal and nature-based
pieces. "Chimera" fulfills my expectation for scientific depth. Callahan's ability to integrate
phantom recollections and immunological notions so deftly into the essay contributes
significantly to its intellectual allure.
In my opinion, incorporating philosophical insights into a personal nature essay that
link personal experiences to more general philosophical problems is a good way to strengthen
the essay. This anticipation is met by "Chimera," in which Callahan investigates the nature of
memory, self-identity, and the junction of science and memory. The complexity of the essay,
as well as the quality of making the reader think, is enhanced by these remarks.
In conclusion, Brian Doyle believes that the "Chimera" article written by Gerald
Callahan mostly satisfies his expectations for a fantastic piece of writing. It draws on
personal experiences, investigates universal truths, and engages readers emotionally all at the
same time. In addition, it satisfies my individual requirements for a personal/nature essay by
providing both a substantial amount of scientific information and philosophical
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considerations. The essay's effectiveness can be attributed, in part, to Callahan's use of
personal narration, immersion in memory and emotion, innovative nonfiction approaches,
and evocative language, as well as his investigation of scientific principles. "Chimera" is an
exceptional piece of creative nonfiction because it demonstrates the power of the essay as a
vehicle for thought, research, and storytelling. As a result, "Chimera" is outstanding.