rhetorical analysis essay last child in the woods

AP English Language and Composition 2013-2014

Saturday, april 5, 2014, rhetorical devices anyone, 42 comments:.

In Richard Louv's essay titled Last Child in the Woods, he uses many different rhetorical strategies to develop an argument discussing man verses nature. The world and society is changing everyday. Technology is becoming a major part of a person's everyday life for the good and sometimes for the bad. Louv uses many rhetorical devices to develop in argument to discuss the difference with people and nature. Some of those devices he used were anecdotes, hyperboles, and even a little bit of sarcasm to create a well written essay. The first major rhetorical device I noticed was the use of anecdotes. When Louv started to tell the story of looking out an automobile window, the essay felt a little more personal. Using anecdotes allows the readers to feel for the author as a normal human being and realize they may have the similar experiences that we have. The story was an excellent one to share. When trying to compare nature with people, Louv was able to do so when sharing the kids can look out the window and receive enjoyment and do not always need technology to gain pleasures the use of this anecdote definitely strengthened Louv's argument. The next rhetorical device discovered was the hyperbole. Here is a direct quote from the text, " The sale man's jaw dropped." Now obviously the sale man's jaw did not fall off and hit the ground, but the readers were able to visualize that the sale man was absolutely in shock at the customer's reply. This was an extreme exaggeration, but left the audience with a deeper understanding of the emotion behind the story. The use of this hyperbole was beneficial in the imagery for the audience. The third major rhetorical device was the use of sarcasm. Sometimes sarcasm in an argument can weaken a paper because it may appear as being rude or cruel. Well, this was not the case in Richard Louv's essay. The point where I felt he used sarcasm was near the end of the argument when discussing the car. “Yes,” we’ll say, “it’s true. We actually looked out the car window.” I felt Louv was trying to bring in some comic relief to appeal to the audience further. He makes it sound like other men feel it is so wrong to look out the window on a trip instead of staring at a screen. This was a great way to end his argument for the audience to enjoy. Richard Louv did an excellent job of arguing the difference between men and nature and people and nature. The piece "Last Child in the Woods" was a great essay that used many beneficial rhetorical devices. The use of anecdotes, hyperboles, and some enjoyable sarcasm strengthened Louv's writing in a plethora of ways. This was an enjoyable piece with exceptionally good rhetorical strategies behind it.

Jolene, your example of a hyperbole was great! I probably wouldn't have recognized that one if you hadn't have said it! Great job with your blog!

First of all, congrats on being the first to post! Also, you example of sarcasm was key. I did not pick that up when I was reading it, but now that you pointed it out, I saw that it was very valuable to his argument. Awesome Job Jolene!!

Jolene, I really didn't notice the hyperbole you pointed out, since it is so commonly used. Great work! Also all of the devices you pointed out were very good and a large part of the essay as a whole. Great job!

Jolene, great job at recognizing the hyperbole. I didn't notice it until I read your blog. Also, good work at picking up in his use of sarcasm. Overall, wonderful job, Jolene!

It was very interesting to read "The Last Child In The Woods" by Richard Louv. He presented a convincing argument of how today's children are so caught up in the new technology of TV, iPads, and Xbox games, that they don't even take the time to embrace nature see what it has to offer. In a way, the children of today are neglecting all the creation that God gave us, and it seems that the older generation in our society isn't doing much to help the cause. For example, it states in the essay that is seems abnormal to not purchase a car with a mini TV/DVD player in the back. Having entertainment for the young passengers relieves the stress of the driver. Richard Louv made a strong argument, and he was able to do so with the help of some rhetorical strategies. The first rhetorical strategy that I noticed after glancing over them was the point of view from which Richard is writing from. He is definitely not writing in first person. He never actually states his own opinion, nor does he use the word 'I'. Therefore, I decided that he was using third person omniscient. He uses words such as he, she, we, you, and they. So, it seemed like he wanted to voice other people's opinions in his piece, just not his own directly. Another rhetorical strategy that was present is the essay was implication of rhetorical questions. The questions in the essay forces the reader to ponder different ideas and suggestions that he is presenting. For example stated in the essay, "Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand the opportunities for them to watch it?" This question makes the reader think of why society is doing that. For one thing technology is very convenient and an easy form of entertainment. Finally, a third rhetorical strategy used in "The Last Child In The Woods" was imagery. Richard Louv uses imagery to depict and describe some of the things and happenings the previous generations children saw when looking out the car window compared to their eyes glued to technology the whole time. He states, "the empty farmhouse at the edge of the subdivision, the variety of architecture, here and there; the woods and fields and water beyond the scary edges..." From these sentence the reader obtains a good picture of what it one could see when looking out the window. Overall, the excerpt I read of Richard Louv's "The Last Child In The Woods" was a good and informative read. It definitely opened up my eyes and got me thinking about what the next generation of kids will have to face concerning technology. I fear that technology will take over. I already feel it contributes the alarming number of obese people in the U.S. Richard's argument was strong thanks to the many rhetorical strategies. Over the next few weeks, I hope to become more familiar with some of these terms.

Tori, I must say that I was very impressed with the devices you chose. I never would have even thought about the point of view from which Richard Louv was writing. I also liked your second last paragraph a lot for some reason. Great work!

Vicky, this is an excellent blog. I really enjoyed reading it. The devices you selected were very interesting and well thought of. You conclusion is also extremely good. Well done!

Vicky, great post! I can tell you thought hard and thoroughly while analyzing this passage. It was interesting to see that you talked about the view point from which the author was writing. I never considered that while reading this; however, it is clear that Louv used it to his advantage. I, too, thought that the imagery and rhetorical questions improved his work. Nice job!

In "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv, many rhetorical devices are used to help strengthen his argument about nature and mankind. He realizes that the world is changing every day and, with that, technology is also making a giant leap and becoming more and more popular as the century continues. The first rhetorical device that I noticed all through out the piece was sarcasm. Louv wrote in such a way that made people think twice about what they were saying and what he was saying. I found this especially when he wrote: “The 30 salesman’s jaw dropped when I said I didn’t want a backseat television monitor for my daughter." I always found that he tended to throw in some humor in an attempt to lighten the mood. The second strategy I recognized was diction. He used this a lot thought the entire piece. His word choices were very decisive and he did not try and use big fancy words to get his point across. He said what he had to say but he did it with words that were neither completely formal or completely informal. That for me was very impressive. Syntax was harder to uncover. But Louv also used syntax in this piece several times. Diction is very close to syntax which is why I think they are both in the essay. I think he used syntax very nicely when he said phrases such as "rearview mirror fuzzy dice". He put more common words together but threw in fuzzy to describe the dice and turned the phrase from being partially formal to informal. I would not have been able to pick out rhetorical devices in "Last Child in the Woods" if I had not been asked to search for them. To me, that fact means that Richard Louv did an excellent job at using them. He used the three I mentioned above plus others such a hyperboles and imagery. I think that this piece was enjoyable and a great way to start to pick out rhetorical strategories.

Jessica, great analysis on the rhetorical devices in "Last Child In The Woods". I agree that the diction was very important. I think it played in his favor that he did not use big and fancy words. It was simple, yet made so much sense and was convincing. Great Job!

I agree with your last paragraph, Jessica. Louv did an amazing job blending in these rhetorical devices! Nice work on your blog.

Jess, I think my favorite part of your blog was, as Felicia said, your last paragraph. He really did a fabulous job writing this. It was both informative and enjoyable, and I would definitely read more of his works in the future. Great blog!

J, I have to agree with everyone else, your last paragraph hit it right on the head. He masterfully included these strategies to make his work appealing to his readers. Nice work!

Richard Louv's essay "The Last Child in the Woods" contains many well used rhetorical devices in order too strengthen his essay. Louv's discusses how children are beginning to use as well as crave technology more and more. There are definitely a lot more kids in this day in age who would rather stay inside and play video games than go outside and enjoy nature. Even the iPads we use for school are often misused which confirms Richard Louv's questions. The first rhetorical device that Louv used was Didactic. Didactic is basically teaching or instructing about a topic. Louv did this for much of the essay when talking about history and today's time. It is not a typical type of teaching so if I was not looking for it I do not think I would have noticed that Louv was actually using this device. This shows how strong of a writer Louv is. The second rhetorical device I noticed was a strong narrative. The narrative about the woman buying the new car drove the point home. It has become so normal for people to buy electronic entertainment for their children that anyone who doesn't is considered weird or different. The narrative also points out that not everyone is always follows a stereotype. Even though this woman is buying a high end vehicle she still wants her children to have fun with being wrapped up in electronics all of the time. The final rhetorical device I found was Litote. A. Litote is something that undermines a statement making a point more clear or just stronger. The point that is made with Litotes is the story about the man selling the car. Since he makes the need of a backseat TV do essential and odd not to have it, we see how much society has conformed to a dependence on electronics. This surely drives home the point that society has a dependence on electronics that is not necessary. Richard Louv's article "The Last Child in the Woods" really drives home the point that electronics dependence and wants are higher than ever in the world today. Louv used many devices that help exemplify what he was trying to teach us in this essay. Hopefully soon the world will slim down its want for electronics and people will spend more of their time enjoying each other and nature.

Austin, I would not have recognized the didactic and litote devices in this excerpt if it weren't for your blog. Great job as usual, Austin!

Wow, Austin! I didn't even think of litote. That's a neat one! Good work.

Austin, you can definitely tell that you took Mrs. messineo's advice about using the website she provided. It benefited your blog, and it opened the rest of our eyes to new rhetorical devices that some of us didn't notice. Great job!

Richard Louv addressed his concern about man, nature, and technology in his essay, "Last Child in the Woods." He used several rhetorical strategies to defend his position and make it clear to his audience. Louv believes that technology gets between the relationship that man shares with nature, and that because of technology, man cannot appreciate the beauty of nature completely like in the past. The first rhetorical device that popped out to me was Louv's use of a personal anecdote. To get his point across, he mentioned that a friend of his recently visited a car dealership and shocked the dealer when she didn't want to add-on the backseat technology. This little story helped the audience understand where Louv was coming from when he said that the "visual connection" of seigneur nature while riding in a vehicle is optional. Parents can choose whether they would rather have their kids look at the windows and sometimes bother them, or watch programs and play video games on a screen. The next rhetorical device that I noticed, repetition, was at the end of the excerpt. Louv repeatedly began sentences with "We". This repetition really caught my eye, but it also made the essay appear more personal. It truly felt like Louv knew we all felt that way. This brings me to another rhetorical device, which is atmosphere. Louv created a sarcastic yet nostalgic feeling to make his point. He used a little humor to get the reader to remember a time when the only thing to really do in the car during a drive was look out the window and admire the surrounding landscapes. Louv also used rhetorical questions in his essay. Louv presented the idea that technology is interfering with man's bond with and love for nature. For example, he asked "Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand the 45 opportunities for them to watch it?" These questions make the audience really consider the topic at hand, and wonder where they stand on the issue and what they can do about it. Overall, Louv did a great job at using rhetorical strategies to discuss how technology is changing the way man looks at nature. Throughout the excerpt, I realized I would have to agree with him on most points, especially that it is repulsive to know that society is so used to having personal T.V. screens in the back of vehicles and that it is strange to do otherwise.

Natalie, this was a good blog! I can tell you did a lot of critical thinking. Good cath on the use of "we" that was not something I noticed. You also had a good point about the rhetorical questions and how they engage the audience to recognize this as a problem that they too are affected by. Great work!

Natalie, great job on this blog. I too noticed the personal anecdote and I definitely felt it strengthened the essay. I think you did a really good job discussing the different rhetorical devices. Great blog!

In "Last Child in the Woods," Richard Louv presents the argument between mankind and nature. Louv successfully proves his point and uses some rhetorical devices to help his argument. One rhetorical strategy that jumped out at me upon finishing reading this was diction. Usually when reading the passages in our blogs, I have to look up a few words. This wasn't the case with "Last Child in the Woods". It seemed like Louv used simpler words, but at the same time worked in his favor. I think that the reasoning could have been he was trying to reach a hidden audience, the kids, telling them that there is more to life than just the television and technology. When Louv described driving in the car, he used imagery. My favorite part was when he stated, " In our useful boredom, we used our fingers to draw pictures on fogged glass as we watched telephone poles tick by. We saw birds on the 65 wires and combines in the fields. We were fascinated with roadkill, and we counted cows and horses and coyotes and shaving-cream signs. We stared with akind of reverence at the horizon, as thunderheads and dancing rain moved with us. We held our little plastic 70 cars against the glass and pretended that they, too,were racing toward some unknown destination." Although a bit lengthy, this perfectly describes a car ride when I was younger with my brothers. It brought back a lot of memories and painted a picture clear as day for me. The third rhetorical device I found was rhetorical questions. Louv asks two questions in particular to really get the audience thinking. "Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand the opportunities for them to watch it? More important, why do so many people no longer consider the physical world worth watching?" Rhetorical questions are my favorite device. When used properly, the author, Louv, leaves the audience thinking, while leaning to his point of view. Louv did a really good job in presenting his argument and he really got me thinking. Technology is expanding so fast, what will the next generation of children be like? What will my children be like? What will they do for fun? Louv was successful in his argument and the rhetorical devices worked to his advantage.

Felicia, nice work! I, too, thought the imagery was "as clear as day" and brought back great memories from car rides. I agree that the rhetorical questions worked in Louv's favor because, after all, they get everyone to think harder. This is a great post, Felicia, and your final paragraph also got me to think critically. Good job!

Felicia, I also liked the imagery in Louv's essay. It really brought me back to the times when I would try to count all the raindrops on the car window. The rhetorical questions were, like you said, very powerful and they also got me to think critically about nature in our society. I thought it was pretty clever of you to put some rhetorical questions in you last paragraph as well! Nice job Felicia!

Richard Louv in "Last Child in the Woods", expresses the separation between humans with nature. His argument is very strong as the result of rhetorical devices. Change is inevitable; it is seen every day by looking at the different generations alive today, considering my grandparents do not even know how to change channels on their television. Technology is advancing more and more, offering many opportunities. My grandparents monkey around with the remote; meanwhile, I have the option of sitting in the back of my car and watching a movie on the backseat television as my parents drive to their house in a desperate attempt to "fix" their television. Through Louv's essay, he condemns such things as backseat televisions. What happened to the days where the children would spend their road trips looking out the window and admiring the beauty of nature? After I posed that question, I realized that Louv, too, poses questions throughout his essay. He uses rhetorical questions as a rhetorical device. This can often be referred to as hypophora, a figure of speech in which the speaker asks a question and then proceeds to answer it. Louv's questions involve critical thinking; they look like the global questions we pose during seminars. For example, he states, "Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand the opportunities for them to watch it? More important, why do so many people no longer consider the physical world worth watching?" After this, he directly describes looking out the window as a "drive-by movie". From there, Louv uses sarcasm, not in a rude way, but rather in a humorous way. He states, "Perhaps we'll someday tell our grandchildren stories about our version of the nineteenth-century Conestoga wagon. 'You did what?' they'll ask. 'Yes,' we'll say, 'it's true. We actually looked out the car window.'" This passage from "Last Child in the Woods" is drawn from an anecdote, another rhetorical device, which includes an account of a real event. Richard Louv writes about a lady's experience at the car dealership. He begins by saying, "A friend of mine was shopping for a new luxury car to celebrate her half-century of survival in the material world." Later this anecdote turns into a hyperbole, a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration. "'The salesman's jaw dropped when I said I didn't want a backseat television monitor for my daughter,' she told me. 'He almost refused to let me leave the dealership until he could understand why.'" I also noticed the use of anaphora, the repetition of a word at the beginning of successive phrases. In the last seven or so sentences, Louv starts them all with "We ...". Throughout the entire passage, he also uses imagery to his advantage. I began to think about all the car rides I have been in. I loved just staring out the window and seeing new places. The world contains so much beauty that new generations are missing out on. I always played the alphabet game and the "I spy" game with my family in order to pass time rather than watching a movie or playing a videogame with the backseat television. Imagery is very noticeable within this passage. For example, I could actually picture the encounter between the salesman and the middle-aged woman. He also describes things very closely in order to let the audiences' minds travel to their own personal experiences with looking out the car window.

Louv states, "In our usual boredom, we used our finger to draw pictures on fogged glass as we watched telephone poles tick be. We saw birds on the wires and combines in the fields. We were fascinated with roadkill, and we counted cows and horses and coyotes and shaving-cream signs. We stared with a kind of reverence at the horizon, as thunderheads and dancing rain moved with us. We held our little plastic cars against the glass and pretended that they, too, were racing toward some unknown destination." This imagery appealed to the senses of the audience. Richard Louv, overall, warns of the separation between nature and mankind. He believes new generations are truly missing out on opportunities. In order to strongly express his opinions, he uses many rhetorical devices. These tools appeal to the audience as they read, and keep reading. Louv sums everything up nicely in the last sentence by describing the importance of looking at nature; he states, "We considered the past and dreamed of the future, and watched it all go by in the blink of an eye." Richard Louv accomplished what he set out to do in this well-written essay.

"Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv was a very interesting essay about the relationship humans have with nature. The rhetorical devices are well placed, and almost unnoticeable to make his essay flow with good rhythm. However, after closer inspection, I was able to spot quite a few rhetorical devices in his work. He utilized specific devices to appeal to ethos, logos, and pathos. One of the devices I noticed quickly was his use of sarcasm and wit. He wrote "A friend of mine was shopping for a new luxury car to celebrate her half-century of survival in the material world." This is definitely witty as he uses "half-century" instead of "fifty years" which would be the normal phrase seen. This sentence is also sarcastic with the use of the "survival in the material world" when he could have simply said her fiftieth birthday. He uses these two devices when talking about the future conversation that he will have with children about actually looking out the window on car trips. He also uses hypothetical dialogue where he writes of a conversation he believes will happen in the future with individuals of a younger age who do not understand why one would look out the window during a car ride. This is an appeal to pathos because it makes the essay humorous because of the irony of the situation. And finally, he used many anecdotes in his essay. He spoke about his friend's dilemma when purchasing a car, and also about what people of his generation did when going on car rides. This brings ethos in because he had knowledge of other people doing these things, so it is credible. Altogether, Richard Louv's essay is an awesome piece of literature. I really enjoyed it, and was able to understand his points about nature and how humans no longer desire to witness the magnificence of the outside world when they can watch TV in their cars. His strategic use of rhetorical devices works to make his essay convincing and enjoyable.

Hannah, good job finding those rhetorical devices. I found what you said about it being enjoyable really accurate. While reading the piece I actually forgot it was for an assignment, and halfway through I started scolding myself for wasting time reading when I should be doing homework. Then I remembered it was homework! Fantastic blog!

Hannah, I like how you pointed our the sarcasm, something which I did not notice, in Louv's essay. I also enjoyed Louv's hypothetical situations, because they were so nostalgic, and by the end of the essay I had to remove my nostalgia glasses to really focus and analyze this piece. I also agree with Meaghan when I say that this essay did not feel like an assignment, it was just enjoyable and a great read. Nice job Hannah!

Han, my favorite part of his Louv's essay was the use of sarcasm, it definitely enhanced his writing. I like the hypothetical dialogue example that you used, I did not know that that was a rhetorical strategy. You learn something new everyday. Great job!

The essay Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv was an interesting read. The idea that media and technology are slowly lessening the importance of "natural" nature is an interesting one. It is certainly true to an extent. Even when people are with their friends, they often whip out the smartphone for games or a variety of other reasons. If other people cannot even catch our attentions, then how can nature? Louv uses a multitude of rhetorical devices to explain the problem. One such rhetorical device is anecdotes. Throughout the piece, he makes references to how the children of his day and age passed a car trip. Another more specific anecdote he uses is when he talks about his friend who bought a car for her fiftieth birthday. His friend did not want to get a backseat television, and the salesperson was astounded. Though this anecdote he showed how most people find such technology to be the norm. Another rhetorical device he uses is repetition. At the end of the essay, he talks again about what his generation did while twiddling their thumbs during long car trips. Again and again he says "We..." and elaborates on the inconsequential things that held their avid attention. His repetition is very effective for several reasons. It is very powerful. It is a story of the past. It is able to make the reader think about what they do during car trips. It also makes watching the television in the car seem like a waste. I also think that I found the rhetorical device transition, but it may be wrong. If I am right, the transition is in line 17 starting with "Culturally important". Before that point, Louv only lays out facts about studies and advertisements. After that point, he uses anecdotes to say why belittling nature is wrong. It is a very important shift between simply reporting and making a point. He starts out giving the reader some basic knowledge of his topic before stating his opinions, and that is without really ever stating his opinions or using the word "I". Louv's essay really is innovative. It feels like so much time is spent doing pointless things like watching television. I myself think that I read and play games a little too much, but it is hard to notice what we are doing when we are doing it. Several hours, days, or even years later, we may notice that we are wasting our time. It will still be a struggle to change. It takes time to change after all. And I think that may be the point Louv is making. It took time to get to where we are now, with technology eroding the little things, and it will take at least as much time to get back. We have to start somewhere, so why not now?

Meaghan, I agree with you that "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv was very intriguing. I also discovered the use of a personal anecdote in the essay. I thought that this was good because it gave Louv the opportunity to grab the attention of his audience. I like how you talked about the use of repetition throughout the passage. Your last paragraph was phenomenal! I really enjoyed how you ended it. Good job!

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Meg, the anecdotes that Louv used I his essay is what really got me thinking about the future and how this is going to effect generations to come. It's great that you pointed out the repetition "We" this makes society a whole in his piece. great job!

Richard Louv, in the “Last Child in the Woods”, argues that there is a still progressing separation between man and nature in today’s society. It also seems that this separation has been birthed from the development of technology. If one were to think back to ancient Roman times one might note that people of those times cultivated nature, bending it and using it to advance their lives. The Romans relied on the great aqueducts and the water from which it brought to survive. If people did not receive that water, they would not have survived, thus it was nature and man working together for survival. Louv would argue that the connection between man and nature today is very thin, and he goes about doing so through his use of hypothetical situations, abstract imagery, and relatable anecdotes. Richard Louv begins his argument with an anecdote. He relates a story about a friend of his who decides to buy a new luxury car. However, this friend knew where to “draw the line”, meaning she did not want a “backseat television” for her kids in the car. Louv hyperbolically describes how the “salesman’s jaw dropped” to create a dramatic feel amongst the reader. Further description in the anecdote leads the reader to feel the same annoyance that the lady must have felt when the salesman would not let her leave without the technological luxury. But, this annoyance also reveals how the salesman has a dependence on technology, which Louv relates to the rest of society. Louv acknowledges the common dependence on technology and his disapproval of it. Drawing from the anecdote, Louv poses a hypothetical situation. He states that someday “we’ll tell our grandchildren that we actually looked out the car window.” What makes this hypothetical situation so powerful, is that it is actually possible and realistic. With more and more cars providing the ability for kids to watch movies in backseat, or even “play Grand Theft Auto on their Playstation”, the hypothetical situation really is not hypothetical at all, but real and scary. This hypothetical situation is also thought provoking. It makes the reader pose more hypothetical situations about man’s separation from nature in his or her own head. Louv’s last support to his claim is his use of nostalgic imagery. Louv recounts events, such as “using our fingers to paint pictures on the fogged glass”, or “watching the telephone poles tick by”. Kids might also “see roadkill, as they counted that cows in the countryside”. Louv’s nostalgic imagery makes the reader think about his own childhood car rides, and the reader cannot resist an urge to want to relive those memories, even if just for a moment. The reader also wants to preserve those memories, thus the reader would want to support Louv’s claim and not lose those precious memories of “looking out the car window”. Louv’s argument is subtle, yet powerful. Louv relates the reader’s personal attachment to memories of long car trips, while the only entertainment at hand was the passing scenery out the car window. Any reader who wants to preserve those nostalgic memories of their childhood would want to close the gap between technology and nature. The goal is also realistic, it just requires our society to make a decision to safeguard the raindrops on the car window, the pictures on the fogged glass, and the long car trips that gave children a chance to let their imagination wander with nature.

Ian, your example of a hypothetical situation was really good! I would not have even noticed this device if I wouldn't have read your blog. I also thought that you did a good job of explaining the use of nostalgic imagery. This was another rhetorical device that I was not very familiar with, but now I can say that I am. Great work!

Richard Louv’s “Last Child in the Woods”, truly explains how life has definitely changed throughout the years. The main topic of the passage is about how it is unknown of kids to actually look out the window when they are in the car. Anymore people just want to spend endless hours on their newest piece of technology. It seems that people don’t enjoy nature anymore. There are many things to view in the world that remarkably are not on a video screen. Richard Louv uses multiple rhetorical devices throughout his passage from “Last Child in the Woods.” The first rhetorical device that I noticed was a personal anecdote. Louv uses a personal story about one of his friends going to a car dealership to purchase a vehicle. He states that “She settled on a Mercedes SUV, with a Global Positioning System: just tap in your destination and the vehicle not only provides a map on the dashboard screen, but talks you there.” This anecdote allows Louv to really connect with the readers. The audience has something that they can relate to when they are trying to comprehend what point is trying to be made. The next strategy that I discovered when reading “Last Child in the Woods” was the use of rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions are often a very good device to implement into a passage because they force the audience to critically think about what they are actually reading. Rhetorical questions help the reader to come closer to actually “owning the novel.” Richard Louv states “Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand the opportunities for them to watch it? More important, why do so many people no longer consider the physical world worth watching?” These questions allowed the audience to understand what he was trying to prove and why he was trying to prove it. This rhetorical device only improved Richard Louv’s “Last Child in the Woods.” The final rhetorical device that I recognized was an anaphora. An anaphora is when multiple sentences in the literary work begin with the same word or same phrase. “We actually looked out the car window. We saw birds on the wires and combines in the fields. We were fascinated with roadkill, and we counted cows and horses and coyotes and shaving-cream signs. We stared with a kind of reverence at the horizon, as thunderheads and dancing rain moved with us.” Louv really emphasized that in the old days people did plenty of things that were totally diverse from today’s society that revolves around technology. Personal anecdotes, rhetorical questions, and an anaphora were only a few of the devices that Richard Louv utilized in his essay. This essay was pretty interesting because it displayed how people in today’s society have truly allowed technology to take over their lives. It is essential that people realize that there are things other than technology in life. Richard Louv made some great points in “Last Child in the Woods”, and I believe that bringing attention to the subject is a good idea because it is something that should change.

Drew, great job picking out rhetorical devices found in this essay. I too noticed the personal anecdote and felt it strengthened the essay. Great blog Drew!

Anyone who rides in the back seat of my 99 Subaru does not have much of a choice but to look out the window for entertainment, not including the singing that is more than likely coming from the front seat. But, I've never really thought that anyone in my car needed entertainment other than the company of those in the car and the scenic views we pass through. This passage was very interesting to me. Richard Louv did a fantastic job of showing his opinion while entertaining his audience at the same time. Louv used many rhetorical strategies to emphasize his writing. One of the strategies he used was making inferences that because we use nature to advertise that we need to actually stop and just appreciate nature itself ...simulating nature or using nature as ad space “demands that we acknowledge, even respect, their cultural importance,”. This inference that he made strengthens his argument because it causes the reader to go over the information and make their own inferences that more than likely will mimic Louv's because he has information to back it up. He also used a for a metonymy, which is using different words to describe something than would be normally used, when he said .... to celebrate her half-century of 25 survival Instead of just saying her 50th birthday. This enhances his writing because it changed the atmosphere of syntax in his work. Having a unique way of writing is very appealing to the reader, because it keep the piece personal. Richard Louv used the numerous rhetorical devices to his advantage in this piece. It was very intriguing to read. I read it more than once, and am still thinking about the points he made.

Erin, I completely agree with you, my car is, as I lovingly tell my friends, a wheel, engine, and seats, I'm lucky I have a radio. The only entertainment is to sing, dance, and talk while we travel and that's exactly what we do. The examples you used were right on and I really enjoyed your beginning paragraph, good job.

In "Last Child in the Woods" Richard Louv writes in a third person omniscient voice. He uses different rhetoric strategies to get across his point such as hyperbole, rhetoric questions, and personal anecdotes. Richard uses these strategies to express his point of how the new generation is changing. Throughout his work, Louv uses hyperboles to get across his point. Hyperbole is the over exaggeration of something to emphasize a point. "The salesman’s jaw dropped'' is an example of hyperbole found in the text amongst others. Hyperboles helped to develop the difference between the two generations. The second type of strategy used is rhetoric questions. Rhetorical questions are questions asked only for an effect not for an actual answer. "Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand the opportunities for them to watch it?" This question proves to show the conflicting feelings adults feel about what's good for their children and what's easiest for them. The last strategy I found was personal anecdotes. A anecdote found in the poem is one about his friend who wanted to buy a new car but refused to get one with a TV in the back for her daughter. The story provides the information needed to realize how people react now when people do not want electronics. The new generation does not understand what it is like to live without them and to appreciate nature. We need to go back to those kind of days and reteach the important things in life such as living without an electronic attached to our hand.

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Novel — Literary Analysis Of The Last Child In The Woods By Richard Louv

Literary Analysis of The Last Child in The Woods by Richard Louv

• Categories: Literary Devices Novel

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Published: Dec 16, 2021

Words: 564 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited:

• Crane, M. (2010). The Devil and Leo Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does a Man Need?". Religion and the Arts, 14(1-2), 118-139.
• Gifford, H. (1972). Tolstoy's Fables. The Sewanee Review, 80(2), 269-284. JSTOR.
• Huddleston, A. (2005). "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" - A Reading. Christianity & Literature, 54(2), 195-209.
• Kearns, K. (1991). Tolstoy and the Rhetoric of Moral Revolt: "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" and "What Men Live By". Studies in Short Fiction, 28(3), 365-375.
• McLean, H. M. (1980). The Irony of Faith and the Paradox of Freedom in Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does a Man Need?". Religion & Literature, 12(2), 19-33. JSTOR.
• Miles, M. (1991). Leo Tolstoy: The Critical Heritage. Routledge.
• Nathan, L. (2010). Tolstoy's 'How Much Land Does a Man Need?' in the Context of the Development of Russian Short Fiction. Forum for Modern Language Studies, 46(4), 403-414.
• Olson, K. (2005). How much is enough? Counting the cost of living in Leo Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does a Man Need?". Journal of European Studies, 35(1), 67-80.
• Parsons, L. A. (1982). Tolstoy and the Devil. The Slavic and East European Journal, 26(1), 24-39. JSTOR.
• Shankar, R. (2014). Death and the Meaning of Life: The Moral and Religious Frameworks of Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does a Man Need?". Religion & Literature, 46(3), 61-82. JSTOR.

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Last Child in the Woods Literary Elements

By richard louv.

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Setting and Context

Contemporary era

Narrator and Point of View

Richard Louv is the first-person narrator.

Tone and Mood

Advocacy, ecocritical, advisory, informative, cautionary, and alarming

Protagonist and Antagonist

Children are the protagonist. ‘Nature-deficit disorder’ is the antagonist.

Major Conflict

Rescuing children from the repercussions of ‘nature-deficit disorder.’

The reunification of nature and children.

Foreshadowing

Understatement.

Allusion to medicine. Literary allusions such as Daniel Beard’s “Shelters, Shacks and Shanties.”

Technology, urbanization, and contemporary lifestyles deny the children natural settings that would have enhanced their overall wellbeing.

The paradoxical belief "Food is from Venus; farming is from Mars" underscores the young people's detachment from nature.

Parallelism

Each chapter commences with quotations attributed to credible personalities or quotations from poems.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

“In the woods” denotes danger. Woods represent nature.

Personification

The subheading, “ Are we mice or are we men,” is a covert personification of mice intended to allude to the lapse of ‘biological absolutes.’

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Last Child in the Woods Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Last Child in the Woods is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for Last Child in the Woods

Last Child in the Woods study guide contains a biography of Richard Louv, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Last Child in the Woods
• Last Child in the Woods Summary
• Character List

Essays for Last Child in the Woods

Last Child in the Woods essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv.

• Promoting the Appreciation of Nature: Rhetoric in 'Last Child in the Woods'

Wikipedia Entries for Last Child in the Woods

• Introduction

Last Child in the Woods

48 pages • 1 hour read

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Key Figures

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder is written by Richard Louv, an American journalist with a focus on environmental and child development issues. First published in 2005, the book falls within the domains of psychology and environmental studies, investigating the phenomenon Louv terms “nature-deficit disorder” and its impact on children. The book has been recognized with several awards and has contributed to discussions about children’s relationship with nature and a growing movement to address the contemporary disconnection. Thematically, it examines environmental ethics, separation from (and reconnection with) nature, spirituality, and the social and psychological implications of decreased interaction with the natural environment.

Louv starts by identifying a trend he calls “nature-deficit disorder,” which describes the increasing alienation between children and the great outdoors. He traces this phenomenon back to various influences including technological distractions, heightened safety concerns, and societal shifts in the perception of nature. Building on this foundation, Louv articulates the myriad benefits that nature offers to both children and adults. He argues that natural environments are essential in promoting mental and physical well-being, introducing the concept of an “eighth intelligence,” or “naturalist intelligence,” which underscores the cognitive and social advantages of a life lived more closely with nature. He also sheds light on public health concerns, such as the rise in childhood obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), arguing that a connection with nature could serve as a remedy.

Shifting focus, Louv examines the various barriers that dissuade children from engaging with the outdoors. He criticizes the cultural prioritization of structured activities and academic achievement, as well as unfounded fears about outdoor safety. Louv takes the education system to task for its role in deepening the rift between kids and nature, claiming that this alienation could produce generations of individuals who are not only unhealthy but also indifferent to environmental conservation. The book then pivots to solutions for this disconnect, emphasizing that reigniting the relationship between children and nature doesn’t require specialized knowledge in ecology—enthusiasm is sufficient. Louv argues for rethinking the societal norms of overprotectiveness, advocating instead for controlled risks in natural settings to cultivate resilience and emotional intelligence in children. He also introduces traditional activities like fishing and hunting as viable means of reacquainting children with the environment.

As the narrative progresses, the author explores the role that educational systems could play in reversing this trend. Drawing inspiration from Finland’s nature-centric education model, Louv argues for the inclusion of outdoor and environmental education in schools. He suggests that a focus on outdoor learning can be both cost-effective and beneficial for academic performance, emotional health, and societal well-being. In the penultimate section, Louv addresses the legal and urban planning challenges that further distance children from nature. He introduces the concept of bio-inclusive, sustainable urban development through the “Zoopolis Movement,” advocating for a harmonious coexistence of human-made and natural environments.

Finally, Louv delves into the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of human interaction with nature. He argues that the natural world offers a unique ethical and spiritual framework that should be passed on to younger generations. Reflecting on personal experiences with his own children, he underscores the need for a widespread societal movement to restore the invaluable connection between children and nature, emphasizing the stakes not just for human well-being but for the environmental future as well.

Related Titles

By Richard Louv

The Nature Principle

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