Burke was born in Pittsburgh in 1897. He attended both Ohio State University and Columbia University but did not graduate from either due to the fact that he was an autodidact or self-taught. While in college, Burke became good friends with Leon Adler, a student of Freud’s who became the father of “biographical criticism” (Smith 276). Burke later became the editor of an influential “little magazine” called The Dial which was published in Greenwich Village (Smith 276).
After his work as an editor, Burke began lecturing about literary criticism at the University of Chicago and then later took on a teaching position at Bennington College in Vermont (Britannica.com).
In 1919 Burke married Lillian Batterham with whom he had three daughters. He later divorced Lillian and in 1933 married her sister, Elizabeth, with whom he had two sons (Answers.com).
Burke’s early interests in poetry, music, and literature led to his theories about humans and their use of symbol systems. He concluded that “because human communication is symbolic, it is also ‘dramatistic’” (Smith 276). This conclusion led to Burke’s overarching approach to look at life in general and rhetoric in particular as a drama (or comedy) complete with plot and actors (Smith 276).
After receiving many awards for his work throughout his lifetime, Burke died of heart failure in 1993 (Answers.com).
Burke’s major texts include:
Counter Statement (1931)
Permanence and Change (1935)
Attitudes Toward History (1937)
Grammar of Motives (1945)
Rhetoric of Motives (1950)
Rhetoric of Religion (1961)
After his work as an editor, Burke began lecturing about literary criticism at the University of Chicago and then later took on a teaching position at Bennington College in Vermont (Britannica.com).
In 1919 Burke married Lillian Batterham with whom he had three daughters. He later divorced Lillian and in 1933 married her sister, Elizabeth, with whom he had two sons (Answers.com).
Burke’s early interests in poetry, music, and literature led to his theories about humans and their use of symbol systems. He concluded that “because human communication is symbolic, it is also ‘dramatistic’” (Smith 276). This conclusion led to Burke’s overarching approach to look at life in general and rhetoric in particular as a drama (or comedy) complete with plot and actors (Smith 276).
After receiving many awards for his work throughout his lifetime, Burke died of heart failure in 1993 (Answers.com).
Burke’s major texts include:
Counter Statement (1931)
Permanence and Change (1935)
Attitudes Toward History (1937)
Grammar of Motives (1945)
Rhetoric of Motives (1950)
Rhetoric of Religion (1961)