Love Letters (I)

The love letter is a genre of writing that has been around forever, that is pervasive, that touches all of our lives – but that we barely ever spend any time talking or thinking about. Well, today, we’re going to talk about love letters.

Below, you’ll find two different excerpts from two different love letters, written between two different couples. Analyze them, annotate them, describe any key similarities and differences, and be prepared to share your findings with the class.

Johnny Cash to June Carter Annotations & Analyses Abigail Adams to John Adams

Happy Birthday Princess, My Dearest Friend,

We get old and get use to each Should I draw you the picture of other. We think alike. We read my heart, it would be what I hope each other’s minds. you would still love though it contained nothing new. The early We know what the other wants possession you obtained there, and without asking. Sometimes we the absolute power you have irritate each other a little bit. obtained over it, leaves not the Maybe sometimes take each other smallest space unoccupied. for granted. I look back to the early days of our But once in awhile, like today, I acquaintance and friendship as to meditate on it and realize how the days of love and innocence, lucky I am to share my life with and, with an indescribable the greatest woman I ever met. pleasure, I have seen near a score of years roll over our heads with You still fascinate and inspire me. an affection heightened and You influence me for the better. improved by time, nor have the You're the object of my desire, the dreary years of absence in the #1 Earthly reason for my smallest degree effaced from my existence. mind the image of the dear untitled man to whom I gave my heart. I love you very much. From your affectionate Happy Birthday Princess. Portia John

Similarities You Noticed Differences You Noticed Name

Love Letters (II)

Discuss / respond to the following questions about the two love letters (from Johnny Cash to June Carter, and from Abigail Adams to John Adams) you’ve analyzed. Allow your discussions to inform your understanding of the kind of rhetoric at work in this style of writing.

What is the speaker’s relationship to his/her target audience in either letter? Is there a similarity between these two letters with regard to their relationship? Is this always the case when it comes to love letters?

The speakers (Johnny and Abigail) refer to their spouses, their target audiences, as “Princess” and “My Dearest Friend,” respectively. Why? What is the impact of using these names instead of their real names? What’s the effect? What’s the purpose?

Do you notice any similarities in the structure of the two letters? (The amount of time spent on ethos, pathos, or logos? The manner in which ideas are introduced and developed? The way the audience is addressed? The way the letter is closed?)

Do you notice any similarities in the content of the two letters? (If you notice similarities – are they exclusive to these two letters, or to all love letters? Explain.)

Do these letters appear to serve the same purpose? In what ways are they serving different purposes? Explain nuances that suggest even minor differences in this regard.

The world-famous “Johnny Cash” signs his letter, “John.” Why? Why not Johnny? What’s implied? What did you just learn about their relationship? Likewise, Abigail Adams signs her letter, “Portia.” (John Adams used to call her “Portia.” According to Wikipedia, “she is beautiful, gracious, rich, intelligent, and quick- witted, with high standards for her potential romantic partners.”) Why does she sign it with a pen name, and not as “Abigail”…?

Love Letters (part II)

Here are three different excerpted love letters to read, annotate, and analyze. As a part of your analysis, compare and contrast the language, structure, and content of each letter with those we analyzed and discussed as a class (Johnny Cash to June Carter, Abigail Adams to John Adams).

From Ludwig Van Beethoven to an unknown Annotations & Analysis individual he calls “Immortal Beloved”

Even in bed my ideas yearn towards you, my Immortal Beloved, here and there joyfully, then again sadly, awaiting from Fate, whether it will listen to us. I can only live, either altogether with you or not at all.

Yes, I have determined to wander about for so long far away, until I can fly into your arms and call myself quite at home with you, can send my soul enveloped by yours into the realm of spirits — yes, I regret, it must be.

You will get over it all the more as you know my faithfulness to you; never another one can own my heart, never — never! O God, why must one go away from what one loves so, and yet my life in W. as it is now is a miserable life.

Your love made me the happiest and unhappiest at the same time. At my actual age I should need some continuity, sameness of life — can that exist under our circumstances?

Angel, I just hear that the post goes out every day — and must close therefore, so that you get the L. at once.

Be calm — love me — today — yesterday.

What longing in tears for you — You — my Life — my All — farewell. Oh, go on loving me — never doubt the faithfullest heart Of your beloved,

Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.

From Zelda Sayre to F. Scott Fitzgerald Annotations & Analysis

I look down the tracks and see you coming—and out of every haze & mist your darling rumpled trousers are hurrying to me—Without you, dearest dearest I couldn't see or hear or feel or think—or live—I love you so and I'm never in all our lives going to let us be apart another night.

It's like begging for mercy of a storm or killing

Beauty or growing old, without you. I want to kiss you so—and in the back where your dear hair starts and your chest—I love you—and I can't tell you how much—To think that I'll die without your knowing—

Goofo, you've got to try [to] feel how much I do— how inanimate I am when you're gone—I can't even hate these damnable people—Nobody's got a right to live but us—and they're dirtying up our world and I can't hate them because I want you so—Come Quick

—Come Quick to me—Lover, Lover, Darling—Your

From President Ronald Reagan Annotations & Analysis to First Lady Nancy Reagan

Dear First Lady,

I know tradition has it that on this morning I place Happy Anniversary cards on your breakfast tray. But things are somewhat mixed up. I substituted a gift & delivered it a few weeks ago.

Still this is the day, the day that marks 31 years of such happiness as comes to few men. I told you once that it was like an adolescent's dream of what marriage should be like. That hasn't changed.

You know I love the ranch but these last two days made it plain I only love it when you are there. Come to think of it, that's true of every place & every time. When you aren't there I'm no place, just lost in time & space.

I more than love you, I'm not whole without you. You are life itself to me. When you are gone I'm waiting for you to return so I can start living again. Happy Anniversary & thank you for 31 wonderful years.

I love you.

Your Grateful Husband

Love Letters (part II) Here is space to record similarities and differences among the letters. Label for your own organization. Name

Love Letters (part III)

Discuss your findings, similarities, and differences across each of these texts.

In the space below, develop a “rubric” for love letters. What makes for a truly effective love letter? Think about language, structure, and argument. Think about rhetorical devices (repetition, metaphor, etc.), appeals (ethos, pathos, logos, kairos) and purpose.

Be prepared to present and defend the criteria you develop!

The Love Letter Rubric Categories / Components Highly Effective Moderately Effective Not Effective Name

Love Letters (part IIIB)

Time to put your framework to the test! Apply your love letter rubric (…the one you developed with your group…) to the following letter, written by Napoleon Bonaparte to his beloved Josephine. Analyze it, discuss it, and explicate it through the lens you developed in your group’s rubric!

From Napoleon Bonaparte, to his wife Josephine.

April 3, 1796

I have received all your letters, but none has made me such an impression as the last. How, my beloved, can you write to me like that?

Don't you think my position is cruel enough, without adding my sorrows and crushing my spirit?

What a style! What feelings you show! They are fire, and they burn my poor heart.

My one and only Josephine, apart from you there is no joy; away from you, the world is a desert where I am alone and cannot open my heart.

You have taken more than my soul; you are the one thought of my life.

When I am tired of the worry of work, when I feel the outcome, when men annoy me, when I am ready to curse being alive, I put my hand on my heart; your portrait hangs there, I look at it, and love brings me perfect happiness, and all is smiling except the time I must spend away from my mistress. By what art have you captivated all my facilities and concentrated my whole being in you? It is a sweet friend, that will die only when I do.

To live for Josephine, that is the history of my life I long.

I try to come near you. Fool! I don't notice that I am going further away. How many countries separate us!

How long before you will read these words, this feeble expression of a captive soul where you are queen?

Oh, my adorable wife! I don't know what fate has in store for me, but if it keeps me apart from you any longer, it will be unbearable! My courage is not enough for that.

Once upon a time I was proud of my courage, and sometimes I would think of the ills destiny might bring me and consider the most terrible horrors without blinking or feeling shaken.

But, today the thought that my Josephine might be in trouble, that she may be ill, above the cruel, the awful thought that she may love me less blights my soul, stills my blood and makes me sad and depressed, without even the courage of rage and despair.

I used often to say men cannot harm one who dies without regret; but, now, to die not loved by you, to die without knowing, would be the torment of Hell, the living image of utter desolation. I feel I am suffocating.

My one companion, you whom fate has destined to travel the sorry road of life beside me, the day I lose your heart will be the day Nature loses warmth and life for me.

I stop, sweet friend; my soul is sad, my body tired, my spirit oppressed. Men bore me. I ought to hate them: they take me away from my heart.

I am at Port Maurice, near Ognelia; tomorrow I reach Albenga. The two armies are moving, trying to outwit each other. Victory to the cleverer.

I am pleased with Beaulieu; he maneuvres well and is stronger than his predecessor. I will beat him soundly, I hope.

Don't be frightened. Love me like your eyes; but that is not enough: like yourself, more than yourself, than your thoughts, your life, all of you.

Forgive me, dear love, I am raving; Nature is frail when one feels deeply, when one is loved by you. Bonaparte

Sincere friendship to Barras, Sucy, Madame Tallien; respects to Madame Chateau-Renard; true love to Eugene, to Hortense.

Goodbye, goodbye! I shall go to bed without you, sleep without you. Let me sleep, I beg you. For several nights I have felt you in my arms; a happy dream, but it is not you.

Your Rhetorical Analysis Through Your Rubric (Does it meet your criteria?)

Additional Thoughts / Questions For Discussion

The Love Letter + The Love Song (part IV)

The time has come for you to conduct a comparative analysis. Your requirements are as follows:

 First, find a love song that you will (1) conduct a rhetorical analysis of, and (2) compare and contrast with one of the love letters we analyzed as a class. o You can select a pop song that’s currently popular (like Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud”) o You can select a classic love song (like Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” or Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight”) – feel free to search Google for “famous love songs” for inspiration. o You can select a less-known-song that you’re a fan of – as long as it fits the bill! (You must be able to argue that it’s a love song!)

 Then, select one of the love letters we analyzed in class. o If you’d like, you can search for the full versions of these letters, or for additional letters written by the same individuals. Some of these guys (like John Adams and Napoleon Bonaparte) were pretty prolific in their correspondences. o You can also find a new love letter to analyze (written by someone other than the folks we analyzed in class) – but if you do, you must bring it to me for approval.

 Compare and contrast both arguments. o How are they structurally similar, and structurally different? Why? Why did the writer/speaker make that structural decision? How did it impact the argument? o How do they use rhetorical devices – in similar and/or different ways? Are there any recurring devices? Any unique devices that are success (or that fall flat)…? Analyze, analyze, analyze! o How does the relationship between speaker, author, and message vary between these arguments? Just because they’re both “lovey” doesn’t mean they share a message… doesn’t mean the speaker and audience have the same kind of relationship… and doesn’t mean they have a common purpose. o Compare their purpose, and their effectiveness. (Are love letters a good medium for some things, whereas love songs are a better medium for others? Where do they overlap? Where do they diverge?)

Page requirement:

Rough draft due: Final draft due: Name

The Love Letter + The Love Song (part IV)

Paragraph 1: Introduction of Topic Sentence 1: What is a love letter and what is its general purpose (or purposes)? Sentence 2: What are the common categories or components of love letters that make them effective in achieving that purpose? Sentence 3: What are some specific examples from the love letters we have studied that exemplify the categories and components in the previous sentence? Sentence 4: What are some variations in arguments that love letters try to support? (consider your love song’s purpose as well as your selected letter’s purpose) Paragraph 2: Rhetorical analysis of your love song Sentence 1: What is the title and performer’s name of your love song? Use a transition. Sentence 2: What is your love song’s purpose and/or claim and to whom is it directed? Sentence 3: What are the rhetorical strategies and appeals employed in the song? Sentence 4: What are some examples of the rhetorical strategies and appeals of your song? Sentence 5: What is the purpose of those rhetorical strategies and appeals? In other words, how do the strategies and appeals you mentioned in the previous sentence help the singer achieve the purpose (support the claim) that you stated in sentence 2?

Paragraph 3: Rhetorical analysis of your love letter Sentence 1: What is the title and author of your selected love letter? Use a transition. Sentence 2: What your love letter’s purpose and/or claim and to whom is it addressed? Sentence 3: What are the rhetorical strategies and appeals employed in the letter? Sentence 4: What are some examples of the rhetorical strategies and appeals of your letter? Sentence 5: What is the purpose of those rhetorical strategies and appeals? In other words, how do the strategies and appeals you mentioned in the previous sentence help the author achieve the purpose (support the claim) that you stated in sentence 2?

Paragraph 4: Comparison of the love song and love letter Sentence 1: How are the love letter and the love song structurally similar and structurally different? Use a transition. Sentence 2: Why are the structures different? Why did the author/singer make those structural decisions? How did their structural choices impact their arguments? Sentence 3: How did they use rhetorical devices and appeals in similar and different ways? Sentence 4: What are some unique devices that were successful in supporting their purpose? Sentence 5: What were some devices that were unsuccessful in achieving their purpose? Sentence 6: How does the relationship between the singer and his or her love object vary from that of the author and his or her love object? What evidence from the texts best support this?

Paragraph 5: Conclusion with major point Sentence 1: What is the effectiveness of a love song versus a love letter in terms of structure and medium? Sentence 2: What are the strongest examples that illustrate your answer to sentence 1? Sentence 3: What are the specific differences between the tone of your love letter and the tone of your love song? Sentence 4: How is tone affected by the format and structure of the love song versus the love letter? Sentence 5: Which is more effective at achieving its purpose: the love song or the love letter? What evidence best supports this?