Kenneth Burke was a major American literary theorist and philosopher whose primary interests lay in rhetoric and aesthetics. His work explored how language functions as a tool for social action and how aesthetic principles shape our understanding of the world. Burke's insightful analysis delves into the intricate connections between art, society, and human behavior, offering readers a profound perspective on the power of communication and form.
Kenneth Burke's critical insights into Shakespeare are compiled in this volume, showcasing both published and previously unpublished lectures and notes. His interpretations have significantly shaped contemporary scholarship and have inspired playwrights and directors through his unique approach to dramaturgy. Additionally, Burke's engaging analyses appeal to a broader audience, making complex theatrical concepts accessible to readers beyond the academic sphere.
"When Kenneth Burke conceived his celebrated "Motivorum" project in the 1940s and 1950s, he envisioned it in three parts. While the third part, A Symbolic of Motives, remains unfinished and unpublished, A Grammar of Motives (1945) and A Rhetoric of Motives (1950) have become canonical theoretical documents. A Rhetoric of Motives was originally envisioned as a two-part book. Here is the until-now unpublished War of Words, the second volume of A Rhetoric of Motives. The War of Words brilliantly exposes and theorizes the rhetorical devices that sponsor war in the name of peace. Discouraging militarism during the Cold War even as it details a catalog of contemporary persuasive tactics and strategies, Burke's book exposes how popular news media outlets can, wittingly or not, foment international tensions and armaments during tumultuous political periods. Chapters include "The Devices," "Scientific Rhetoric," "The Rhetoric of Bureaucracy," and "The Rhetorical Situation," along with an introductory chapter from the editors and a short introduction by Burke himself. With The War of Words, Kenneth Burke's influence and scholarly importance continues to play a prominent role in the field of rhetoric and literary criticism today"--Provided by publisher
Burke returns in this latest installment, showcasing a gripping narrative that combines suspense and intrigue. The story delves into complex themes of morality and justice, as the protagonist navigates a web of challenges that test their limits. With a blend of rich character development and a fast-paced plot, readers are drawn into a world where every decision has significant consequences. This edition is available in both print and digital formats, making it accessible for all readers.
Unique for its blend of essay and fiction, this collection features the complete works of Kenneth Burke, including 23 short stories and the novel "Towards a Better Life." Celebrated for their brilliance, these pieces showcase Burke's luminous prose and innovative narrative style, distinguishing them from typical 1920s literature. Denis Donoghue praises the novel for its exceptional writing, highlighting the importance of style in Burke's storytelling.
Words are aspects of a much wider communicative context, most of which is not
verbal at all. Yet words also have a nature peculiarly their own. And when
discussing them as modes of action, we must consider this nature as words in
themselves and the nature they get from the non-verbal scenes that support
their acts. This book deals with this topic.
Concerned with the basic forms of through which, in accordance with the nature
of the world as all men necessarily experience it, are exemplified in the
attributing of motives.
Kenneth Burke's innovative use of dramatism and dialectical method have made him a powerful critical force in an extraordinary variety of disciplines—education, philosophy, history, psychology, religion, and others. While most widely acclaimed as a literary critic, Burke has elaborated a perspective toward the study of behavior and society that holds immense significance and rich insights for sociologists. This original anthology brings together for the first time Burke's key writings on symbols and social relations to offer social scientists access to Burke's thought.In his superb introductory essay, Joseph R. Gusfield traces the development of Burke's approach to human action and its relationship to other similar sources of theory and ideas in sociology; he discusses both Burke's influence on sociologists and the limits of his perspective. Burke regards literature as a form of human behavior—and human behavior as embedded in language. His lifework represents a profound attempt to understand the implications for human behavior based on the fact that humans are "symbol-using animals." As this volume demonstrates, the work that Burke produced from the 1930s through the 1960s stands as both precursor and contemporary key to recent intellectual movements such as structuralism, symbolic anthropology, phenomenological and interpretive sociology, critical theory, and the renaissance of symbolic interaction.
Kenneth Burke's literary reviews, presented in this collection, showcase his insightful engagement with a diverse array of authors and thinkers, including prominent figures like T.S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, and Ernest Hemingway. Through over 150 reviews, Burke examines literature as a vital tool for understanding aesthetics, rhetoric, and communication. This compilation not only highlights his critical acumen but also positions his reviews as significant scholarly contributions, bridging literature with broader themes in philosophy, sociology, and history.
Set against the backdrop of 1959, the correspondence between William Rueckert and Kenneth Burke reveals their shared anxiety over the long-awaited publication of Burke's "A Symbolic of Motives." Rueckert's eagerness to incorporate Burke's work into his own book leads to a deep exploration of the Symbolic's content and structure. Their exchanges highlight the complexities and challenges of literary collaboration, ultimately placing the responsibility of organizing the ideas on Rueckert, showcasing both the tension and camaraderie in their relationship.
