Unbroken Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Unbroken
The author wrote this story to inform the reader of the life of Louis Zamperini, while also telling the story in an entertaining way. Hillenbrand demonstrated the main idea throughout the book by using rhetorical devices such as diction, syntax, imagery, and tone. Hillenbrand’s use of these rhetorical devices contribute to the book Unbroken by emphasizing the main character, Louis “Louie” Zamperini’s, life before, during, and after becoming a prisoner of war.
In the novel, the author changes the tone throughout the book to add emotion to the story. In the beginning, she uses a depressing tone while also including statistics and the death rates throughout World War II. Hillenbrand says that “...fewer than 30 percent of men whose planes went missing between July 1944 and February 1945 were rescued. Even when the plane’s location was known, only 46 percent of men were saved,” (Hillenbrand 91). She says this to emphasize the major death toll and how very few people were saved. As the book progresses, the author uses inspirational tone as Louie redeems himself through God,as well as highlighting Louie’s “promise thrown at heaven, a promise he had

The author uses a limited amount of diction throughout the book, because she wanted to keep the main focus on the character. “A particularly repugnant guard was known as sh*thead,”(210). This example of diction describes how everyone felt about the guard. She uses the diction to give the reader a better thought about what was going on throughout the book. “For the umpteenth time, Louie cursed whoever had stocked the raft,” (164). By using the phrase “umpteenth time”(164), you can tell that Louie has become frustrated, that he is cursing those who he doesn’t know. Even though there is limited diction throughout the book, the author still finds a way to incorporate it throughout the