Rhetoric Study

Thus far Michael Chabon’s writing style has been a pleasure to read. He uses a good amount of humor through sarcasm and he uses Yiddish words to add to the humor of the novel as well. Many instances in the novel that seem to be pretty intense are actually lightened by a sarcastic remark by Landsman, or a description of someone or something using Yiddish slang. The first couple of character’s that are introduced all give off a sarcastic tone that makes this book very humorous. Not only do most of these character’s have sarcastic tones but each of them has very Jewish-sounding or Yiddish name like, Tenenboym, Shemets, Shpringer, Gelbfish, Velvel.

“’ I sleep,’ Landsman says. He picks up the shot glass that he is currently dating, a souvenir of the World’s Fair of 1977. ‘It’s just I do it in my underpants and shirt.”’(2)

This quote displays a good example of the sarcasm used by Landsman when he is simply questioned. I also found it very interesting the way Chabon goes to say that he is “currently dating” this shot glass, which made it seem like this had been his only lover or the only thing he has cared about in a while. His choice of diction to portray his attachment to this shot glass really gave me a since that he is an alcoholic who has possibly been depressed and this shot glass has been his escape.

“…in whose café the great exiles of Jewish chess met every day to demolish one another without pity or heart…He took on all comers and sent them out of the Einstien so soundly thrashed that one or two of them never forgave him”(30)

This situation is a part in the novel when Landsman takes his father to this hotel to play chess against some people and to maybe get some information about the murder of this Emanuel Lasker. The way Chabon describes the way these old men play chess is very humorous. It could almost be compared to a fight between old people. By giving this sarcastic edge to the game of chess Chabon easily portrays a good sense of humor.

There aren’t exactly specific passages that point out the constant use of Yiddish words but Landsmen uses many Yiddish words in his everyday language like referring to his gun as a “sholem”. The main source of Yiddish comes from all of the names he gives to the people and places. All of these names and places adds to the humor of the novel giving it a very Jewish or Yiddish feel.