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Rhetorical Analysis Of Dumpster Diving By Lars Eighner

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Lars Eighner once found himself homeless, scavenging dumpsters for his next meal and looking for possessions that could benefit him in this difficult time. While on this journey, Eighner discovered how wasteful today’s society is when it comes to vital materials in life. In his article, “Dumpster Diving”, Eighner uses an informative tone to emphasize the fact that people take things for granted by wasting valuable items they could still benefit from. Eighner establishes his use of logos by emphasizing his view on wastefulness in today’s society. He communicates in his article, “Perhaps everyone who has a kitchen and a regular supply of groceries has, at one time or another, made a sandwich and eaten half of it before discovering mold on the …show more content…

“I like the frankness of the word scavenging, which I can hardly think of without picturing a big black snail on an aquarium wall” (Eighner 712). Eighner uses this quote to create a sense of imagery for his audience by comparing himself to a big black snail scavenging for food as dumpster divers do. As a matter of fact, Eighner commented that he liked the frankness of the word “scavenging”, showing that he prefers a more specific term rather than the clichéd term of “dumpster diving”. Eighner continues to imply that society takes valuable items for granted by relating himself to his audience. “Once I was the sort of person who invests objects with sentimental value. Now I no longer have those objects, but I have the sentiments, yet” (Eighner 712). He conveys that he used to be like everyone else, keeping things that hold no value or use to him, but now realizing that he was also being wasteful by continuing to obtain those items. Eighner using the word “sentimental”, also proves that he has an advanced vocabulary. Henceforth, his use of figurative language heightens the seriousness of how careless people are when it comes to products such as food and other beneficial items being

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