During the 1918 flu epidemic, it became evident that challenging aspects of scientific research required different characteristics of scientists. In a passage from The Great Influenza, John M. Barry recognizes exemplification, persuasive diction, and informative figurative language in order to depict the work of a scientist as challenging and complex and to portray scientists as those who should possess the traits that are necessary in order to accomplish their goals.

In order to identify obstacles in the world of experimentation and to describe the necessary actions to overcome them, Barry utilizes exemplification by providing specific scenarios. While describing the creativity needed to overcome difficulties, Barry uses the examination of a rock as an example to support his claim. He discusses what tools would be the most appropriate to use—“Would a pick be best, or would dynamite be better?”This hypothetical question represents Barry’s claim that creativity is a common problem that scientists encounter in their work. He goes on to use the examination of a rock’s environment as an example of a scientist’s mission to obtain needed information—“There is a stream passing over the rock.” These examples assist the author in supporting his idea that complications arise in which scientists must use creativity and curiosity to figure them out. His strategy is clear, concise, and has a powerful diction.

Barry’s use of descriptive speech allows the audience to further understand his overall purpose of communicating the challenges of experimentation and the qualities that grow from the experience. In describing the decisions that scientists must make, Barry describes work as “grunt” and “tedious.” The reader realizes through this diction that a scientist does experience a complicated workload. He uses inspiring words such as “strength” and “courage” in order to describe the characteristics that are needed to overcome the anticipated uncertainty that is so common in science. While describing a scientist’s journey into the “unknown,” Barry uses words such as “wilderness” and “frontier” which further illustrate the uncertainties mentioned. In concluding these examples of powerful diction, one can see that Barry is successful in conveying the depths of research.

By using several devices of figurative language, Barry is able to further describe a researcher’s challenges by comparing them to other situations and ideas. While discussing the unknown boundary that scientists must persist, Barry describes a “wilderness region” that is unfamiliar and new. He continues to say that scientists venture “through the looking glass” into a new frontier. These devices help to create familiar ideas that will help the audience understand the situation. Another mechanism used was a simile that compared research to a “crystal” by explaining that “probing” was to “precipitate an order out of chaos.” Finally, Barry applies a metaphor in order to discuss what follows a discovery. He describes “a flood of colleagues” that “pave roads over the path laid.” This tells how science changes continuously, one discovery after another ultimately revealing the patience and curiosity that a scientist must have. These figurative devices teach a new way of understanding for an audience that is unfamiliar with the author’s theme.

Barry successfully conveys the many trials that scientists will endure in their work and the qualities that are essential in order to be successful by using three effective rhetorical devices—exemplification, influential dialogue and insightful figurative language. His experience during the flu epidemic along with educated demonstration combines to prove his claim that there is much more to science than what is seen on the surface.