‘Charging’ a Confirmation Sermon with Suspense: Three Rhetorical Opening Strategies
The feeling of boredom during a speech is not a new phenomenon, but in a late modern information society this challenge is intensified. This article explores what sort of rhetorical opening strategy which may ‘charge’ a sermon with an appropriate suspense to help the congregation to remain attentive...
| Published in: | Journal of youth and theology |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2023
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| In: |
Journal of youth and theology
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| IxTheo Classification: | KBE Northern Europe; Scandinavia RC Liturgy RE Homiletics |
| Further subjects: | B
Boredom
B Rhetoric B Sermon B captatio benevolaentiae B Suspense B Confirmation |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The feeling of boredom during a speech is not a new phenomenon, but in a late modern information society this challenge is intensified. This article explores what sort of rhetorical opening strategy which may ‘charge’ a sermon with an appropriate suspense to help the congregation to remain attentive throughout the sermon. The article analyses a selective, digital sample of video recorded confirmation sermons from Church of Norway confirmation services in 2020. Drawing on theories on suspense, attention, and boredom, the article uses classical rhetorical theory on the different styles of speech to suggest three possible rhetorical opening strategies for a preacher who wants to ‘charge’ a (confirmation) sermon with a relevant suspense, that of the teacher, the poet, and the prophet. |
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| ISSN: | 2405-5093 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of youth and theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/24055093-bja10040 |