Dylan's Biographical Rhetoric and the Myth of the Outlaw Hero.

This essay extends the literature on the rhetoric of music, specifically the rhetorical potential of Bob Dylan's songs. The paper focuses on Dylan's biographical songs, a genre largely overlooked by scholars. In the lyrics of these songs Dylan promotes the myth of the outlaw‐hero and offers powerful cultural criticism by appealing to three ethical traits: resistance to corrupt authority, integrity of the self, and simplicity. We contend that Dylan's use of the myth of the outlaw hero builds his own ethos as an outsider loyal to American cultural systems who successfully criticizes our culture. We show how Dylan's use of biographical rhetoric defines a social context with appeal to the vast audience attracted to his work.