Chapter 19 – Dramatism
Chapter 19
Dramatism
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Burke argued that some of what people do is motivated by their animal nature (such as thirst
and hunger) and some of what they do is motivated by
2. Burke asserted that words, thoughts, and actions have
3. _____ occurs when two people overlap in terms of their substance.
4. According to Burke, _____ is the central motive for all symbolic activities.
5. Louie is late for his date with Rachel. When she asks him the reason, he says, “My roommate
borrowed my car and was late getting back. He’s so irresponsible! I’m definitely not rooming
with him again next year.” In the given scenario, Louie is engaging in
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23. The pattern of guilt and purging guilt is as follows: order or hierarchy, the negative,
victimage, and redemption.
24. The only way to determine dramatistic ratios is by examining the agent–act ratio.
25. The act is the goal the agent had in mind when engaging in a particular behavior.
26. Although Burke’s theory has been influenced by Aristotle, Burke’s ultimate purpose was to
displace Aristotle’s original thinking.
27. The pentad allows us to analyze various speakers and speeches.
28. Hunt called the dramatistic ratios the “interaction effects of two or more elements” and
argued that observing these interactions is one criterion by which to judge the worth of a piece
of rhetorical criticism.
29. Burke’s goal was to theorize about the whole range of human experience.
30. When a culture’s language has symbols for a given motive, then speakers of that language
are unlikely to have that motive.
Essay Questions
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31. Identify and explain the three assumptions of Burke’s Dramatism Theory.
Answers will vary.
32. Identify and define the elements of Burke’s pentad.
Answers will vary.
33. What is identification in Dramatism Theory? How does it apply to Dramatism Theory?
Answers will vary.
34. Do you agree or disagree that “guilt is the central motive for all communication”? Why, or
why not?
Answers will vary.
35. Evaluate Burke’s Dramatism Theory using the standard criteria for evaluating
communication theories.
Answers will vary.
36. Discuss why rhetorician Marie Hochmuth Nichols believes that Burke is “difficult and
often confusing.” What can you present from the theory that illustrates her thinking? What
response would you offer to Nichols in her assessment?
Answers will vary.
37. Compare “terministic screens” and “trained incapacities” across a variety of contexts,
namely, medicine, education, and labor (trades). If, as Burke contends, language has a life of its
own, how does the language used in each of these professions differ and/or how are they
similar?
Answers will vary.
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38. Identify and define the types of victimage. Provide an example of each to illustrate. Which
do you feel is more widely used among celebrities who find themselves in trouble, and why do
you think that is the case?
Answers will vary.
39. A key in the redemption phase is that guilt is only temporarily relieved. Explain what this
means and why guilt returns to plague the human condition as any order or hierarchy becomes
established.
Answers will vary.