Rhetorical Analysis of Groucho Marx’s Letter (2)

1.

Writing a close Analysis
essay
We’re going to look now at steps you can take toward writing a close analysis essay.
Good writing comes from careful reading, so the first steps will always be to read,
reread, ask questions, and either annotate or create a graphic organizer for the
text you will be working with.

2.

Today, we’ll dive into a humorous yet strategic letter from
Groucho Marx to Warner Bros. about the title of an
upcoming film. Let’s see how Marx uses language to make
his case.

3.

Who Were the Marx Brothers?
Comedians and film stars: Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo
Famous for comedy films in the early 20th century
Known for witty dialogue and slapstick humor

4.

First Reading: Getting the Gist
● Read the letter silently.
● Then, prepare for a brief whole-class or smallgroup discussion:
○ What is the letter about?
○ What tone do you detect?
○ What seems to be Marx’s overall message or
purpose?

5.

Background: The Letter and Its Context
Warner Bros. was worried about the film title A
Night in Casablanca (1947)
Concern: Title too similar to Casablanca (1942)
Groucho Marx wrote this humorous letter
addressing their concerns

6.

Second Reading: Annotation and Close Reading
Reread the letter, this time annotating:
○
Underline or highlight key diction (word choices) that stand out (e.g.,
formal, humorous, sarcastic).
○
Note syntax choices (sentence length, structure, punctuation) that
affect tone or pacing.
○
Mark any rhetorical devices (irony, humor, repetition, parallelism).
Alternatively, fill out a graphic organizer that breaks down:
○
Diction (examples and effects)
○
Syntax (examples and effects)
○
Overall tone and purpose
Annotation Focus Areas
Diction: Word choice (formal,
informal, humorous, sarcastic)
Syntax: Sentence length, structure,
punctuation
Rhetorical Devices: Irony, humor,
repetition, parallelism

7.

Small Group Discussion: Asking Questions and Interpreting
○
How do Marx’s word choices help achieve his purpose?
○
What effect do his sentence structures have on the letter’s tone?
○
How does Marx balance humor and persuasion?
○
What might be the impact on Warner Bros.?

8.

Write a quick journal entry:
“What rhetorical strategies did Groucho Marx use to
make his point? How effective do you think the letter is?”

9.

Homework
Task One : Write your own humorous persuasive letter
Task Two: Compare Marx’s letter to Letter from Birmingham Jail