Will Ferrell's Speech

Life presents a wide array of obstacles as well as opportunities, and it is important to be prepared to take on whatever it is that life has to offer. In his Harvard Commencement Address, Will Ferrell reinforces this idea into the 2003 graduating class of the prestigious Harvard University as they prepare to move on to do greater things. His comedic approach is successful due to his ability to evoke feelings of laughter from his audience while also making them realize that they are entering a new stage of life. Although Ferrell is speaking directly to the class of 2003, anyone who listens to or who views his speech will experience humor in an otherwise serious event, and they will reflect on their own life or envision their future. Through

His use of a polysyndeton dramatizes how serious he is about setting up the graduating class to be ready to face the world. His repetition of conjunctions slows down the pace of his speech while also creating a rhythm that further enhances his message by making his audience grow a deeper interest for what he will address. In addition, the polysyndeton helps in cultivating the trust between Ferrell and those who he is speaking to because the rhythm plays a substantial role in keeping the attention of the audience. Another method of appealing to the audience is through his use of an anaphora. Through his anaphora that describes how life can be tough, Ferrell instills his sentences into the memories of his listeners since repetition makes phrases easier to remember. Moreover, in his use of an anaphora, he was able to evoke laughter from the audience because of the relative realism of his choice of situations that he chooses to present. Another way in which he evokes laughter is by using a hyperbole. The exaggeration adds to the humorous mood and adds a uniqueness to his speech that distinguishes it from other commencement speeches, which often have a much more serious tone. Not only is Ferrell able to hold the attention of the audience for the entirety of his commencement address, but he is also able to successfully convey his message. In the long term, this method is beneficial towards the students because it creates a lasting memory that they can look back on and remember as reliable