Date of Birth: May 5, 1897
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Date of Death: November 19, 1993
Biography
Kenneth Burke was an influential American literary theorist and philosopher renowned for his contributions to rhetoric and aesthetics. Born on May 5, 1897, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Burke grew up with a profound interest in literature and philosophy. He attended Ohio State University and Columbia University but did not complete his degree at either institution, opting instead to immerse himself in the literary scene of New York City. Burke’s career spanned several decades, during which he wrote extensively on various topics including literary criticism, communication, and symbolic interactionism. His seminal works, such as “A Grammar of Motives” and “A Rhetoric of Motives,” have left an enduring legacy in the fields of literary theory and philosophy. Burke passed away on November 19, 1993, leaving behind a rich legacy of intellectual inquiry and academic contributions.
5 Interesting Facts about Kenneth Burke
1. Kenneth Burke was a self-taught pianist and enjoyed composing music.
2. He was a prominent figure in the New York literary scene during the 1920s and 1930s.
3. Burke was awarded the National Medal for Literature in 1981.
4. He developed the concept of the “dramatistic pentad,” a method for analyzing human motives and actions.
5. Despite his significant contributions to academia, Burke never held a permanent faculty position at any university.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Kenneth Burke
1. “Wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric. And wherever there is ‘meaning,’ there is ‘persuasion.’”
2. “Man is the symbol-using (symbol-making, symbol-misusing) animal.”
3. “Our purpose is to minimize the occasions for misunderstanding.”
4. “Ad bellum purificandum” – a phrase Burke coined meaning “toward the purification of war.”
5. “A way of seeing is also a way of not seeing.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Kenneth Burke’s net worth was never publicly disclosed, but his influence and contributions to literary theory and philosophy were invaluable.
Children
Kenneth Burke had three children: 1. Michael Burke 2. Anthony Burke 3. Margaret Burke
Relevant Links
1. [Kenneth Burke on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Burke
2. [Kenneth Burke Society](http://kbjournal.org/
3. [Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Kenneth Burke](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/burke/
4. [National Medal for Literature](https://www.nationalbook.org/nba-lifetime-achievement-awards/
5. [Kenneth Burke’s “Dramatism”](https://dramatism.org/