Written By: Michel de Montaigne
Presented By: Diana Dieu, Patrick Lee, and
Tim Royer
Influential writer of the French Rennaissance
Grew up in French Nobility
Well Educated, (spoke Latin from 0-6 years)
Insisted on introspection
Reflected by writing almost solely about
Himself
Writing Style- Light, Un-technical
Essay is opinion, not concerned with validity
Montaigne compares books for:
◦ Amusement
◦ Knowledge
◦ Simplicity
◦ Eloquence
True History is written from experience
Montaigne prefers simple, short, and concise
pieces
To argue why he finds more enjoyment in the
books that he reads
Encourage writers to write to the point
Encourage the common reader to discuss
their thoughts on what they read
Repetition
Quotations
Syntax
Tone
Montaigne repeats his purpose verbally
Has effect-This is what I believe, and I am
right, even if I am not the foremost expert
Convinces his readers to learn to speak their
minds
Beats these ideas into the audience’s mind
Utilizes quotes from authors in conjunction
with his desired effect
“For I make others say what I cannot say so
well” (Montaigne 46)
Propertius, Catullus, Horace, Virgil
Rhetorical questions for effec (49)
Contrasts of authors’ styles and effects (51)
Uses Latin to appeal to ethos, that he is
learned (53)
Aggressive
Attacks every writer even after he states that
he is not learned enough to do so fairly.
“And moreover I do not know how to excuse
him for having considered his poetry being
published” (52)
Ethos(dominant)
◦ Well-educated and extensively read
◦ Defends against critiques by pleading opinion
◦ Willingly confronts any discrepencies
Logos
◦ Reasons with reader-why his opinion is true
Pathos
◦ Completely avoids appeals to emotion
Not very effective
Reasoning is biased towards his opinion
Contradictions within his essay
Yet, he’s willing to confront the mistakes