Rhetorical devices

Anecdotes

Minchin begins his speech with an anecdote meant to entertain the audience. He talks about “darker days” (l. 1), when he did “a corporate gig” (l. 1) for an accounting software company. The anecdote, in which Minchin talks about a poorly chosen inspirational speaker, entertains the audience and provokes laughter. Furthermore, beginning the speech with an anecdote breaks the ice and makes the audience feel more comfortable.

Another personal anecdote is used when Minchin talks about the power of humility and respect: 

I have, in the past, made important decisions about people I work with – agents and producers – based largely on how they treat wait staff in restaurants. I don’t care if you’re the most powerful cat in the room, I will judge you on how you treat the least powerful. (l...