Logos and Pathos in Sentencing Dr William Parry

Abstract

The focus of this article is on the sentencing remarks concerning a sixteenth century Welsh traitor. Before analysis of the logos track, thematic structure and the surface tropes of these remarks, the origins of this genre from 1307 are examined, demonstrating their formal drafted style and the extemporised style that fully emerged in 1600, which was presaged in the remarks examined here. The discussion that follows the analysis is in five sections which cover the external impacts on this genre; on sentencing remarks in genre theory; on sentencing remarks and social conflict; on censure and sanctions; and on sentencing remarks in the liturgy of criminal process.