Paper 1: "Pleasure of Books" by William Lion Phelps

            As William Lion Phelps articulated in his "The Pleasure of Books" speech: "Books are for use, not for show". Since this extracted phrase and entire political speech is voiced through a radio, it is addressed to human beings of all age and circumstances, particularly those who are unable to access media as well as young teenagers. Considering that this speech was delivered in the old-time radio era, specifically in 1933, radios were greatly used by families, especially during the mornings while eating breakfast. Through this strategic means of communication, Phelps persuades the listeners to pursue the hobby of reading and to own books as opposed to only collecting or borrowing them. In reference to the title, the main theme explored is the essence of pleasure that books deliver when reading them, as the author is specifically appealing to the sense of gratifications that human beings desire, which is a method of persuasion to initiate this spark of interest. In order for Phelps to voice this message, he uses a range of literary devices, primarily similes, diction, as well as the inclusion of a variety of structural and literary features.

          Through the strategic implementation of analogies in the means of similes, the author is able to invigorate the image of a borrowed book as well as the impact of owning books as against to borrowing them. William Phelps powerfully begins his speech with a striking introduction to immediately connect with the audience as a whole: "The habit of reading is one of the greatest resources of mankind". This is enhanced with the use of a simile, comparing a borrowed book to "a guest in the house" to enliven the negative portrayal of a borrowed book and appeal to the sense of ownership as one can never have enough freedom to use it to their liking and that a formal barrier will be present to confine any sense of ease and casualness. This appeal to the sense of ownership is further developed with the use of an additional simile when comparing the marking of favorite passages in an owned book to "visiting a forest where [one] blazed a trail". This implantation of imagery in conjunction with a simile stimulates an immediate effect on the audience as it attempts to persuade through appealing to pathos and nature. Furthermore, the appeal to pathos is applied to passionately persuade the listeners that owning a book will trigger a personal emotional connection to occur that will forever be embedded in one's memory.

            Through pathos, the author implants diction to emotionally persuade and appeal to the audience's sentiments of gaining friends through the reading of books. Phelps states: "But book-friends have this advantage over living friends; you can enjoy the most truly aristocratic society in the world whenever you want it". This statement specifically targets teenagers who are facing discrimination or hatred from society and as a result through Phelps's argument on book-friends being better than living friends, the young listeners would be attracted to the idea of reading books. Moreover, the author includes: "The best of mural decorations is books; they are more varied in color and appearance than any wallpaper, they are more attractive in design, and they have the prime advantage of being separate personalities, so that if you sit alone in the room in the firelight, you are surrounded with intimate friends". By targeting young listeners, through the application of imagery and diction, Phelps is able to design a clear image in their minds of a colorful bookshelf with a fireplace that when one sits to read the books, are surrounded by friends. Phelps's selection of words combined have an immediate effect on the young teenagers to envision a perfect quiet space, away from the disruptions of society and the world.

            In addition to the author's inclusion of similes, diction, and imagery, the enclosure of particular structural and literary features is filtered through. This initially includes the author's construction of an experienced and reliable character, as a professor of English at Yale University, to appeal to ethos, which initiates an instant outcome on the audience to trust the author's words, causing to alter their standpoint on books and persuade them not only collect, but read. Furthermore syntax was embedded in the first paragraph when the author speeches: "You must see that it sustains no damage; it must not suffer while under your roof. You cannot leave it carelessly, you cannot mark it, you cannot turn down the pages, you cannot use it familiarly". The formation of short, abrupt sentences leads to the presence of pauses while articulating the speech that adds drama or suspense in the point of view of the listeners, instigating their attention. Moreover, the author's constant repetition of "you" indicates the use of second person singular to speak directly to the listeners and revolve the speech around them. This once again is successfully in acquiring their devotion. Moreover the repetition of "must" in the first sentence and "cannot" in the second sentence put emphasis on the concept of having to be overprotective if using a borrowed book, as it requires much maintenance. As a result, Phelps convinces that one should own books in order to break the barrier of formality that is faced while using a borrowed book. Lastly dialogue is planted in the third paragraph through the author when he speaks: "Most of my indoor life is spent in a room containing six thousand books; and I have a stock answer to the invariable question that comes from strangers. "Have you read all of these books?" "Some of them twice." This reply is both true and unexpected." Once again, the author firms his position as an experienced literary author through the use of dialogue between him and a stranger by implementing a question to answer their doubts of owning many books. Consequently, in the standpoint of the listeners, this is a source of encouragement that could possibly trigger their curiosity and passion for books.

           To conclude, William Lion Phelps's presentation of his political speech, "The Pleasure of Books", was aimed to impact all human beings, mainly young teenagers, to plant a seed of love for books. With the purpose of persuading through the use of the appeal of pathos and a range of literary and structural devices, his writing and wording style placed an ardent, encouraging, affirming, and intense tone, thus situating the audience with an inspired, optimistic, and curious mood. His message however was not spread to everyone, including the Nazi Germany, and lead to the burning of books that withheld any "ungerman" ideas.