Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men: Logos 1 key example

Definition of Logos

Logos, along with ethos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Logos is an argument that appeals to... read full definition
Logos, along with ethos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Logos is... read full definition
Logos, along with ethos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective... read full definition
Part 3
Explanation and Analysis—From a Pup:

After Slim keeps five puppies from his dog’s litter, Carlson, another “hand” on the ranch, suggests to Candy that he kill his ailing dog and take one of the puppies instead. In the debate that follows, Carlson uses logos to support his argument for putting down the aging dog, and Candy responds with pathos in defense of his dog: 

“He ain’t no good to you, Candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself. Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy?” [...] 

Candy looked about unhappily. “No,” he said softly. “No, I couldn’ do that. I had ’im too long.” 

“He don’t have no fun,” Carlson insisted. “And he stinks to beat hell. Tell you what. I’ll shoot him for you. Then it won’t be you that does it.” 

Candy threw his legs off his bunk. He scratched the white stubble whiskers on his cheek nervously. “I’m so used to him,” he said softly. “I had him from a pup.”