Abstract
Since the beginnings of classical rhetoric, story telling has been considered an effective rhetorical device to bring about attitudinal and behavioral change, especially in political communication. Recent findings within the study of narrative persuasion suggest that unlike argumentative patterns of communication narration not only differs in its manner of representation but also in the way narrative information is processed mentally. The following chapter discusses various effects of narrative persuasion in political speeches and illustrates these with two recent speeches on the issue of German immigration policy. Both politicians, right-wing populist Bernd Hocke and Norbert Lammert, president of the German parliament, demonstrate how narrative elements can be utilized to enhance the persuasiveness of rhetorical argumentation by creating an emotional dichotomy between two opposing political parties and legitimizing their respective political convictions.
