The rhetoric of martyrdom: A case study analyzing the rhetorical situations of Joan of Arc, John Brown and Jim Jones

The study provides a critical analysis of the rhetoric used to establish a martyr in history. An indepth definition of martyrdom, along with a criteria for martyrs, is utilized in support of the theories. The text claims that the rhetoric of a situation is the key to becoming a martyr. Utilizing the theory of criteria for martyrdom as the tool, histories, biographies, discourses, and print media provide the input for the analysis; The examination breaks into three case studies: Joan of Arc, John Brown, and Jim Jones The examples of Joan of Arc and John Brown illustrate the positive role rhetoric played in their eventual classification as martyrs. The example of Jim Jones displays the negative effects rhetoric had on his failure to become a martyr. The study offers valuable insight into the questions, who deserves martyrdom and why?

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1999

Author dc:creator

• Meservey, Chris S

Contributors dc:contributor

• Richard Jensen

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/1063

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-2062