Question

What are some textual evidence of Ethos, Pathos, Logos in "An Indian's Father's Plea" by Robert Lake?

Answer 1

I'm not familiar with that text, but to help you out here are the definitions of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.


Pathos is the emotional appeal to the reader. Many people get this confused with Ethos, a way I remember it is that Pathos sort of sounds like 'pathetic' which I somehow link to emotions, and can remember that Pathos means this. An example of Pathos would be describing a sick mother of a villain to earn the villain sympathy for the villain.

Ethos applies to ethics. Culture, religion, morals, ect. The author would use Ethos to show the reader culture, and to get them to sympathize or to plea with the character because of strong morals, religion, or culture.

Logos is logic. The author appeals through the reader using logical points, factual evidence, among other things.

So, after reading the text, what do you think the author uses to appeal to his readers? The title certainly appeals to Pathos, by using the word 'father' and 'plea' the author is directly channeling fear from the reader, and sympathy for them because the father is pleading for something. Because they used the word 'father' this may mean that he is pleading for his children, or maybe for his tribe. However, by using the word 'Indian' it also inflicts Ethos, because it directly links to culture and appeals to the reader because of this.