Tactical purpose:
An author would use an exemplum to explain morals to the listeners or readers. Exemplums are usually folktales, legends, and history. The effects and impacts can last for generations because the exemplums can be passed from generation to generation. Many religions and cultures today are influenced by the stories and legends from specific exemplums. Exemplums would be attractive for writers to argue their morals by storytelling, and to explain to listeners and readers that the morals and lessons in their exemplums are valid because the figures went through something to learn. Exemplums can help writers achieve their goals because they can use exemplums to disagree with other claims from other writers, while they can use exemplums to strengthen their argument.
Steps for analysis:
Read the exemplum the author provided
Check what type of exemplum it is
Consider how the arguments in the exemplum and the author’s own relate
Why does the author use the exemplum for this specific purpose?
Nonfiction Prose:
Gen. Raymond Lee, The London Journal, 1940-1941, p.466
“At the time of the Russian entry into the war, he [Churchill] was suddenly asked by someone, ‘What will govern your policy toward Russia?’ He stared at his toes reflectively for only a few seconds before he said solemnly, ‘The baboon in his native habitat is a creature who harms no one. The baboon in a cage at the zoo is a creature who is the object of profound interest and sometimes commiseration from the spectators. The baboon in bed with your wife or sister is something which no one can regard without profound horror and disgust. These three sentences I trust will indicate the ideas which will govern my policy towards Russia”
Analysis of Nonfiction Prose:
The excerpt is from the London Journal. Winston Churchill was calling the Russians baboons. He was using them as an example for baboons because he was implying that Russians act exactly like baboons. He said that in their natural habitats, they were harmless. Churchill wanted Russians to stay where they were at so they could cause no problems to the United States and other countries. Churchill implies that the baboons should not be allowed in the United States by saying that they with their wives and sisters would be disgusted. He says this because Russians near their loved ones would cause issues and spread their ideas to Americans. Churchill mainly uses the exemplums of baboons because he is comparing the Russians as baboons to scare Americans from getting close with Russians by dehumanizing them.
Safwan Z