Webpage adjusted for smaller screen width.
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.
Most commonly it is an A-A'-B-B' arrangement. It can also be an A-A'-B-B'-C-C' or occasionally with a larger number of repeated elements such as an A-A'-A''-A'''-B-B'-B''-B''' structure. In an immediate repetition, a theme is repeated then a second theme with its repetition, a third theme with its repetition, and so on. As few as two elements may have been used, A-A'. Usually the emphasis, if there is one, is found in the X center point or in a summarization. Sometimes the second element augments the first with greater meaning, B and what's more B'.
A clarification of an element or a sequence of elements where the second part in some way removes the obfuscation that may be found in the first. An amplification can be a large increase such as the multiplication of believers in the book of Acts; the additional detail provided by its conjugate pair, seen especially when a substructure provides data that is not in the first; or in an immediate repetition where the second part adds more than just the antithesis to the first such as Kugel's A what's more B teaching.
A clarification of an element or a sequence of elements where the second part in some way removes the obfuscation that may be found in the first. An amplification can be a large increase such as the multiplication of believers in the book of Acts; the additional detail provided by its conjugate pair, seen especially when a substructure provides data that is not in the first; or in an immediate repetition where the second part adds more than just the antithesis to the first such as Kugel's A what's more B teaching.
This IMMEDIATE REPETITION is a narrative about how Noah, after everything was released from the ark, became drunk and undressed himself while inside his tent. The problem in this brief story is not that Noah was naked or drunk, but that Ham showed poor discretion regarding Noah′s nakedness.
1) Ham showed indifference towards his father while Shem and Japheth used good discretion. Ham in the A element did not honor his father while the other two in A′ showed their respect. Ham′s indifference was significant and not love. In this CONTRAST, the A′ reveals the proper attitude. Ham, a Canaanite, was corrupt and therefore cursed; Shem and Japheth showed wisdom and were therefore blessed.
2) The second B′ element, verses 26-27, is an AMPLIFICATION of B—it presents the blessing given to Shem and Japheth, and a curse given to Canaan as servants to the other two brothers. Show More Rhetoric Show Less Rhetoric
IMMEDIATE REPETITION:
... the curse upon Ham and Canaan ...
a genealogy marker
BEGINNING MARKER: Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. (v18,19)
Noah the farmer became drunk and naked
PRELIMINARY: Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. (v20,21)
Ham proclaimed/publicized Noah′s shame
A
Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. (v22)
Shem and Japeth covered Noah′s shame
A′
But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father′s nakedness. (v23)
a change of time
SUB-UNIT MARKER: When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. (v24)
Canaan is cursed
B
So he said, “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brothers.” (v25)
Shem and Japheth are blessed
B′
He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.” (v26,27)
a genealogy marker
ENDING MARKER: Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood. So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died. (v28,29)