English Studies and the Study of Rhetoric

Abstract: This essay explores the overlooked role of rhetorical analysis within English Studies, using the Yearbook of English Studies as a lens on disciplinary blind spots and evolving methodologies. While the journal has traditionally prioritised literary analysis, a few notable articles adopt a distinct focus on persuasion, performance, and audience. Focusing on David McCracken’s 1971 reading of Burke and Katharina-Maria Schön’s 2024 study of More, the essay examines how rhetorical method works in practice—through voice, address, ethos, and the shifting relationship between speaker and audience. It also extends this analysis to contemporary examples from social media and lyric poetry, illustrating rhetoric’s value in interpreting tone, persona, and implied audience across genres. These case studies highlight how rhetorical approaches can deepen our understanding of both historical and digital texts. Reclaiming rhetoric as a complement to literary analysis offers a way to revitalise English Studies for today’s diverse and participatory textual environments.