Ellen DeGeneres Commencement Speech at Tulane University

Literary Device

Explanation of quote

"I did everything from - I shucked oysters, I was a hostess, I was a bartender, I was a waitress, I painted houses, I sold vacuum cleaners, I had no idea."

This example of a literary device is an anaphora. The sentence repeats I to emphasize all the jobs she had before she found her calling in life, comedy.

Pathos

Explanation of quote

Literary Device

"I was maybe 19, and my girlfriend at the time was killed in a car accident. And I passed the accident, and I didn't know it was her and I kept going, and I found out shortly after that, it was her. And I was living in a basement apartment, I had no money, I had no heat, no air, I had a mattress on the floor and the apartment was infested with fleas."

She saw her girlfriend killed from a car accident but did not realize when she passed the car. After this she ended up in a basement apartment and had nothing. She had hit rock bottom. This quote is pathos because it tugs at the readers emotions about the troubles she has gone through in her life.

"I was born and raised here, I spent my formative years here, and like you, while I was living here I only did laundry six times. When I finished school, I was completely lost. And by school, I mean middle school, but I went ahead and finished high school anyway."

Explanation of quote

This quote by Ellen is a literary device. It is an example of an anecdote. She talks about her life before her success and fame. She was raised in New Orleans, where the college is located. She can relate to the area where most of the college students grew up in.

She was afraid that people would find out she was gay and not watch her show any more. She refers to this time being along time ago by saying it was before Barack Obama became president. This was before it was acceptable to be gay. It shows how gay people were afraid to be public because it was not acceptable among society.

Pathos

Logos

" And I thought, what if they find out I'm gay, then they'll never watch, and this was a long time ago, this was when we just had white presidents - this was back, many years ago."

Explanation of quote

"And thank you to all the graduating class of 2009, I realize most of you are hung over and have splitting headaches and haven't slept since Fat Tuesday, but you can't graduate till I finish, so listen up."

Ethos

Hiding the fact that she is gay was really hard for her as a comedian. She was living in fear that people would find out she was gay and not like her anymore. One day she could not keep this secret in anymore and decided to come out to the world. This represents logos because it is logical that she would be nervous coming out to her fans and what they think. But it gets to a point where you have to come out and it is too hard to hide.

When she gave the speech it was around Mardi Gras time. She was making a joke that most of the college students had been partying and did not get much sleep. But they could not graduate until she was done talking and they had their diplomas. This is logos because it is a fact that they can't graduate until all of the speeches are made and everyone receives their diplomas.

"And I started this path of stand up and it was successful and it was great, but it was hard, because I was trying to please everybody and I had this secret that I was keeping, that I was gay. And I thought if people found out they wouldn't like me."

Explanation of quote

She worked very hard to get to where she was at that point and she was finally experiencing some success. This quote displays ethos because she had good work ethic to gain all the fame she has now.

Ellen DeGeneres Commencement

Speech at Tulane University

May 16, 2009

Explanation of quote

Logos

She started her career as a stand up comedian and altho it was very hard she had much success. She was afraid that the fact she was gay would damage her career. This is ethos because it is unethical to judge someone for being gay. The fact she had to worry about this was bad.

"and I finally decided that I was living with so much shame, and so much fear, that I just couldn't live that way anymore, and I decided to come out and make it creative."

By: Jordan Shugart

Allie Megahan

Period: 4

Mrs. Lauver

9/30/2012

Ethos

Purpose of the speech

"Then my career turned into - I got my own sitcom, and that was very successful, another level of success."

She congratulates the graduating class of 2009.The speech also inspires the students to be true to their self and follow their passions.

Context of the speech

Commencement speech to college students at graduation.