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Audience And Style In Dr. Essay

By bringing personal memories and anecdotes into the speech, Pausch also allows his children to put him in their own history, even though he will have passed away before they reach the age of majority. Through telling silly stories of his past, Pausch allows his children to experience a bit of his life, just as they would if he were there to tell them these stories throughout their lives. Thus, Pausch's lecture is clearly intended for his two children, through he offers instructions, as well as a snippet of himself through which they can remember him. But if this lecture is for an audience of Pausch's children, then why is an entire audience of Oprah Show viewers and You Tube users awed by it? Why has it inspired books and conversations around the country? The answer to this question is contained within the speech's content and the orator. As already discussed, the content of this speech is quite unique. Pausch acknowledges that professors often deliver a hypothetical last lecture, but that his lecture is unique because it is, truly, a last lecture, as he is suffering a terminal disease. The content of this speech, then, is amazing because it casts a bridge between...

The content of this speech allows listeners to face their worst fears and find that they are not so frightening.
But content alone cannot do this. Instead, the personality of the orator, Pausch, allows viewers to do this in a much more significant way. Relaxed, honest, up-front, and practical, Pausch addresses the concept of death in a way that viewers can find calming. He does not feel afraid, and he does not call out to a religious creed, although he may have one, but he is rather calm and serene, speaking about the issue with a sense of comfort. Thus, Pausch's attitude during the speech allows entire audiences to feel at ease. His speech was an inspirational gem, not just for his children, who were his audience, but for all of us. By listening to him, viewers realize that others can learn if they learn to discuss topics that are generally avoided, like death.

Works Cited

"Inspirational Speech by Dr. Randy Pausch on the Oprah Winfrey Show: The Last

Lecture, Dr. Pausch Passed Away on July 25, 2008." You Tube. 4 March 2008. 2 May 2009.

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

"Inspirational Speech by Dr. Randy Pausch on the Oprah Winfrey Show: The Last

Lecture, Dr. Pausch Passed Away on July 25, 2008." You Tube. 4 March 2008. 2 May 2009. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ya9BXClRw>
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