Enthymeme is defined as the quarrelsome speech or remarks where writer ignores one of the major or minor evidences, and doesn’t pronounce clearly or keeps this evidence unclear.
The function of enthymeme is quite common in advertisements, political speeches, and literature. It allows the audience work on their assumptions, and pushes them to read further to get a clearer picture of the evidence or an idea. By forcing the audience to take a final step, it strengthens the argument of the writer. Often enthymemes help to hide the unclear ideas upon which a major argument depends. In addition, the purpose of using an enthymeme is to convince the audience by using unclear arguments.
Enthymeme is used in everyday life and not only is used in common school arguments, but in politics as well.
So, let us explore some common enthymemes along with what is implied.
- Jose lied, so he can’t be trusted. (Liars can’t be trusted)
- I’m not married, so the toilet seat is up. (Married men put the toilet seat down)
- Drugs kill the innocent, so drugs are wrong. (Killing the innocent is wrong)
- A bird has feathers, therefore, it flies. (Animals with feathers fly)
- Drunk drivers take innocent lives. Drunk drivers are bad. (Taking innocent lives is bad)
Examples of Enthymeme found in literature.
- Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar can provide you with a few different examples of enthymeme. However, this one about Brutus helps to demonstrate this logical judgment.
But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man.
Not only is Brutus ambitious, but he’s honorable.
- Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self by Alice Walker
In Alice Walker’s short biography, you can find an example of an enthymeme.
These are not “real” guns. They shoot BBs, copper pellets my brothers say will kill birds. Because I am a girl, I do not get a gun.
In this logical deduction, the implied premise is girls don’t get guns. She’s a girl. Girls don’t get guns. Therefore, she does not get a gun.
Examples of Enthymeme in Movies and Product Advertising
- James Bond: From Russia With Love
Do you like Bond movies? Who doesn’t? Well in James Bond: From Russia With Love, you can find this enthymeme.
There’s a saying in England. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
In this Bond line, you don’t see the implied deduction that fire makes smoke.
- The Emperor’s New Groove
Another fun movie example comes from Disney’s The Emperor New Groove..
You’re forcing an entire village out of their homes just for you! And thaaat’s….bad?
This one is a bit of a stretch for an enthymeme, but you can still see the implied premise of forcing an entire village to leave their homes is bad. However, in this case, the emperor is just too selfish to see it.
- Smuckers
Looking for a non-movie pop culture enthymeme? Look no further than Smuckers.
With a name like Smucker’s, it has to be good.
Smuckers is a trusted name. Trusted names are good. Therefore, with a name like Smuckers, it has to be good. It’s all about the implied premise.
Now let us explore enthymeme used in famous speeches like this one from President George Bush:
The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on September the 11th, 2001, and still goes on. . With those attacks, the terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States. And war is what they got.
In this enthymeme, you don’t need the implied premise of Saddam Hussein being involved in the 9/11 attacks to get the meaning. It’s easy to see. And when you hear speeches or even speech in public yourself, it’s easy to fill in the blanks for the implied premise.