SPEECH ANALYSIS

SCENT OF A WOMAN Managerial Communication

BM Section B, Group 4
BACKGROUND
Scent of a woman is a movie produced in 1992, starring Al Pacino as
retired Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (who is blind) and Charles
ODonnell as Charlie.
Charlie and his friend, George, witnessed a prank pulled by his fellow
classmates on the principal. They were asked to reveal the names of the
people involved, but both of them refused. The principal then told them
that whoever is willing to provide the three names will receive a
recommendation letter that will guarantee admission into Harvard
University.
Charlie tells an obvious lie to the Headmaster of his boarding school, in
front of all the students and teachers, whereas George cooperates with
the Principal. The Principal orders a disciplinary committee to expel
Charlie. Charlies new friend Colonel Frank Slade decides to get a few
things off his chest.
THE COURT SCENE SCENT OF A WOMAN
CHECKPOINTS TO ANALYSE THE SPEECH
Content:
Logical Coherence : The speech started with a sense of angst
against Baird School, moving on to Charlies character and then to an
emotional yet powerful end.

Use of sarcasm/irony: Use of sarcasm and rhetoric multiple

times
What the hell is that? What is your motto here?
"Boys, inform on your classmates
 Call to Action at the end of the speech : Appeals the school
not to expel Charlie.
You hold this boy's future in your hands..

Repetition : Uses soul and spirit multiple times to instil a

sense of morality. Also referred Baird Men repeatedly to stir
emotions.

Personal Touch : Uses anecdotes/narratives for a personal

touch.
Now I have come to the crossroads in my life

Use of Profanities : Uses cuss words to garner the attention

effectively and show his frustration to the three perpetrator
Non Verbal Cues:
Eye Contact : Frank Slade is blind. To compensate for loss of
eye-contact with the audience, he raises his voice to gain attention and
authority.

Body Movements: Taps the table, waves his blind stick, uses
elaborate hand movements to express himself and stands up in protest.

Voice Modulation : Frank modulates his voice to depict

aggression, anger, empathy, satire etc.

Pauses : Appropriate pauses were used to let the speech sink

in the minds of not only the administration but also the students.
SPEECH TRANSCRIPT
SPEECH TRANSCRIPT
SPEECH TRANSCRIPT
 WHAT MAKES A SPEECH STAND OUT?

ETHOS PATHOS LOGOS

Appeal to Moral Appeal to Emotion Appeal to Logic or
Philosophy Reason
Relevance to audience Emotional Connect
Informed opinions
Restrained, sincere, fair Vivid descriptions
minded presentation Analogies
Narratives of emotional
Coherence and good events Factual data and
vocabulary statistics
Figurative language
Clear Articulation Quotes/Citations from
Pauses at the right time experts and authorities
Multiple presented
perspectives
 OVERALL SPEECH ANALYSIS USE OF ETHOS

Call to values
But I can tell you this: he won't sell anybody out... to buy his future!

Comments on Charlies Character

It's a path made of principle...that leads to character.

Invokes sense of connection to the school by using its name again and again
still worthy of being a Baird man
Because he's not a Baird man. Baird men. You hurt this boy, you're
gonna be Baird bums
USE OF PATHOS
Invokes emotions by questioning the values of the institution
say you are killing the very spirit... this institution proclaims it instils.

Tells a personal narrative

Now I have come to the crossroads in my life.

Emphasises on soul and spirit multiple times

But there is nothing like the sight... of an amputated spirit
you are... executing his soul!