A pentadic model of semiotic analysis

Abstract

Abstract Kenneth Burke’s dramatistic pentad can be understood as a pentadic model of semiotic analysis. Dyadic, triadic, and other relational models offer valuable benefits, but Burke’s pentad is especially useful and relevant given its focus on both action and motive/purpose. Here we will look in more detail at some of these benefits of Burke’s schema understood in this semiotic light, and then we’ll apply the model to a few examples of object analysis. If it is true that Burke’s pentad works in this way as well as we think it does, then fruitful ground exists here for other researchers as well, particularly since Burke’s pentadic model features much less in the field of semiotics proper than do more common dyadic and triadic based models.