Written Communication Jul 1988

Ethos Versus Persona: Self-Representation in Written Discourse

ROGER D. CHERRY

Abstract

This essay examines self-portrayal in fictional and nonfictional written discourse. The essay focuses on various treatments of self-representation in rhetorical and literary critical theory in an effort to overcome the conceptual and terminological confusion that has arisen across time and disciplinary specialties in the discussion of self-portrayal. The essay argues that two common terms for describing self-representation—ethos and persona— are often conflated but that there are good historical and conceptual grounds for maintaining a distinction between them. Such a distinction refines our critical vocabulary for analyzing the multidimensional nature of self-representation in writing.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1988-07-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088388005003001
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation context

Cited by in this index (13)

  1. Pickering (2019)
    Emotion, Social Action, and Agency: A Case Study of an Intercultural, Technical…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Amicucci (2017)
    Rhetorical Choices in Facebook Discourse: Constructing Voice and Persona
    Computers and Composition
  3. DiPardo et al. (2011)
    Seeing voices: Assessing writerly stance in the NWP Analytic Writing Continuum
    Assessing Writing
  4. Dubinsky (2004)
    Guest Editor's Introduction
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Smidt (2002)
    Double Histories in Multivocal Classrooms: Notes Toward an Ecological Account o…
    Written Communication
Show all 13 →
  1. Forman et al. (1999)
    The Genre System of the Harvard Case Method
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. FABER (1998)
    Toward a Rhetoric of Change: Reconstructing Image and Narrative in Distressed O…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. Cherry et al. (1998)
    Direct assessments of writing: Substance and romance
    Assessing Writing
  4. Grant‐Davie (1997)
    Rhetorical situations and their constituents
    Rhetoric Review
  5. GALINDO et al. (1995)
    Person, Place, and Narrative in an Amish Farmer's Appropriation of Nature Writing
    Written Communication
  6. KAUFER et al. (1994)
    Some Concepts and Axioms about Communication: Proximate and at a Distance
    Written Communication
  7. Witte et al. (1994)
    Notes toward an assessment of advanced ability to communicate
    Assessing Writing
  8. Harris (1993)
    Generative semantics: Secret handshakes, anarchy notes, and the implosion ofethos
    Rhetoric Review

References (77) · 6 in this index

  1. Abrams, M. H.
    The mirror and the lamp: Romantic theory and the critical tradition
  2. 10.1080/03637756309375361
     ↗
  3. 10.1017/CBO9780511802058
     ↗
  4. Aristotle
    The “art” of rhetoric
  5. Aristotle
    Rhetoric
Show all 77 →
  1. 10.1017/CBO9780511802058
     ↗
  2. 10.2307/3720579
     ↗
  3. Bitzer, L. (1968)
    Philosophy and Rhetoric
  4. 10.1080/00335637009382992
     ↗
  5. Booth, W. C.
    The rhetoric of fiction
  6. Brinton, A. (1983)
    Philosophy and Rhetoric
  7. 10.2307/376723
     ↗
  8. 10.1080/00335637509383302
     ↗
  9. Cherniss, H. (1943)
    University of California Publications in Classical Philology
  10. Cicero
    Orator
  11. Cicero
    De orators
  12. Clifford, J. L. (1965)
    Modern Language Newsletter
  13. Corbett, E.P.J.
    Technical communication: Perspectives for the eighties
  14. 10.1080/03637756809375583
     ↗
  15. 10.2307/284116
     ↗
  16. 10.2307/3848822
     ↗
  17. Davie, D. (1968)
    Encounter
  18. 10.2307/358092
     ↗
  19. 10.2307/358093
     ↗
  20. Efron, A. (1966)
    Satire Newsletter
  21. Ehrenpreis, I.
    Restoration and eighteenth-century literature: Studies in honor of Alan Dugald McKillop
  22. 10.2307/377789
     ↗
  23. Elliott, R. C.
    The literary persona
  24. 10.1080/10510977809367963
     ↗
  25. FAHNESTOCK (1986)
    Accommodating Science: The Rhetorical Life of Scientific Facts
    Written Communication
  26. Faigley, L.
    Assessing writers' knowledge and processes of composing
  27. Feinberg, L. (1966)
    Satire Newsletter
  28. 10.2307/356630
     ↗
  29. 10.2307/459894
     ↗
  30. 10.2307/374594
     ↗
  31. Gibson, W.
    Persona: A style study for readers and writers
  32. Gilbert, G. N.
    Opening Pandora's box: A sociological analysis of scientists' discourse
  33. Grant, W. L. (1943)
    Classical Journal
  34. Halloran (1982)
    Aristotle's concept of ethos, or if not his somebody else's
    Rhetoric Review
  35. Highet, G. (1974)
    Hermes
  36. 10.2307/358049
     ↗
  37. Jaeger, W.
    Paideia: The ideals of Greek culture
  38. Johnson, N.
    Essays on classical rhetoric and modern discourse
  39. Kinneavy, J. L.
    A theory of discourse
  40. 10.2307/358094
     ↗
  41. 10.1080/10510977809367961
     ↗
  42. Lloyd-Jones, R.
    Evaluating writing
  43. 10.2307/356377
     ↗
  44. Mack, M.
    Collected in himself: Essays critical, biographical, and bibliographical on Pope and some…
  45. MacKendrick, P. (1948)
    Classical Journal
  46. 10.1080/10510978109368075
     ↗
  47. McKeon, Z. K.
    Novels and arguments: Inventing rhetorical criticism
  48. Mellon, J. C.
    National assessment and the teaching of English
  49. 10.1080/03637757409375855
     ↗
  50. 10.2307/375964
     ↗
  51. Minot (1981)
    Response to Russell C. Long, "Writer-Audience Relationships: Analysis or Invention?"
    College Composition and Communication
  52. MYERS (1985)
    The Social Construction of Two Biologists' Proposals
    Written Communication
  53. Odell et al. (1982)
    Writing in a Non- Academic Setting
    Research in the Teaching of English
  54. Odell, L.
    New essays in technical and scientific communication
  55. 10.2307/461344
     ↗
  56. Overington, M. A. (1977)
    Philosophy and Rhetoric
  57. 10.2307/357917
     ↗
  58. Park (1982)
    The Meanings of "Audience"
    College English
  59. 10.2307/628928
     ↗
  60. 10.1080/03637756609375487
     ↗
  61. 10.2307/357586
     ↗
  62. Sattler, W. M. (1941). Conceptions of ethos in rhetoric. Unpublis…
  63. 10.1080/03637754709374925
     ↗
  64. Self, L. (1979)
    Philosophy and Rhetoric
  65. Tillyard, E.M.W.
    The personal heresy: A controversy
  66. Toulmin, S.
    Human understanding
  67. Trilling, L.
    Sincerity and authenticity
  68. Vatz, R. E. (1973)
    Philosophy and Rhetoric
  69. Wimsatt, W. K., Jr.
    The verbal icon
  70. Wright, G. T.
    The poet in the poem: The personae of Eliot, Yeats, and Pound
  71. Yoos, G. (1979)
    Philosophy and Rhetoric
  72. Ziman, J.
    Public knowledge: The social dimension of science
CrossRef global citation count: 67 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related articles

  1. Res Rhetorica Apr 2026
    Logos in ancient Greek discourse on rhetoric: An overview ↗
    Arkadiusz Sokolnicki
    classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism discourse analysis argument
  2. Poroi Feb 2026
    Using Stasis Theory as a Heuristic for Examining Epistemological Dilemmas in a Post-Truth Landscape ↗
    Bruce Bowles
    classical rhetoric modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism discourse analysis argument
  3. Rhetorica Jan 2026
    The Daimonion of Isocrates: Anti-Socratic Polemics and the Power of Politikoi Logoi in the Philippos ↗
    Tobias Hirsch
    classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism discourse analysis argument
  4. Philosophy & Rhetoric Oct 2025
    The Intellectual and Cultural Origins of Chaïm Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca’s New Rhetoric Project: Commentaries on and Translations of Seven Foundational Articles, 1933–1958 ↗
    Christopher W. Tindale
    classical rhetoric modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism genre theory discourse analysis revision argument collaborative writing editorial matter
  5. Philosophy & Rhetoric Sep 2024
    Where’s the Rhetoric? Imagining a Unified Field ↗
    Joshua Hanan
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism composition theory genre theory discourse analysis cultural rhetorics argument qualitative research quantitative research digital rhetoric social media grammar and mechanics gender and writing disability studies public rhetoric affect and writing body and rhetoric editorial matter