Declaring Independence

Declaring IndependenceBy Jay Fliegelman

More than a document...

In Fliegelman’s argument, the act of demands attention.

Declare, v. To make known or state publicly, formally, or in explicit terms; to assert, proclaim, announce or pronounce by formal statement or in solemn terms.

“[In] ‘the elocutionary revolution,’ [a] new language was composed not of words themselves, but of

the tones, gestures, and expressive countenance with

which a speaker delivered those words.” (Fliegelman 2)

Jefferson’s Pauses

“…there is compelling evidence that he thought deeply about how it should be and ”

(Fliegelman 5)

read heard.

Jefferson’s Influences

“In opposition to the spoken Declaration, whose speaker illuminated, elicited, and partially created its meaning in the context of a larger social interaction, the printed Declaration, experienced as it is today in the individualistic context of a silent reading largely untuned to the performative dimension of the text, is radically cut off from its original rhetorical context.” (Fliegelman 21)

The Declaration of Independence, John Trumbell

Pennsylvania militia colonel John Nixon (1733-1808) is portrayed in the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 6, 1776. This scene was created by William Hamilton after a drawing by George Noble and appeared in Edward Barnard, History of England (London, 1783).

Rhetoric and DemocracyThe Elocutionary Revolution

Conclusions Significant contextual analysis of

the Declaration of Independence Draws important distinction:

Declaration as document vs. the rhetorical act of Declaration

Engages audience in questioning assumed readings of foundational documents

Questions Limited evidence from rhetorical marks Critical methodology

“Speculative historicism” -- Mitchell Breitweiser

Works Cited

Burgh, James. The Art of Speaking. Baltimore: Printed for

Samuel Butler by John Butler, 1804. Google Book Search. Web. 16 Sept 2013.

 Hamilton, William. “First Public Reading of the Declaration of

Independence.” History of England. London: 1783. Library of Congress. Web. 16 Sept 2013.

 Levine, Robert. “Constellating Associations: Jay Fliegelman

and Critical Method.” Early American Literature. 43.1(2008): 145-151. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 16 Sept. 2013

 Savage, Edward. Congress Voting the Declaration of Independence.

1776. Library of Congress. Web. 16 Sept 2013.

Book images courtesy of Amazon