Kenneth Burke

American literary theorist and rhetorician in the 20th century. See here for his Wikipedia page.

In general
Burke is noted for his work on "symbolic action," which is the defining characteristic of humans above and beyond animals - while animals are capable of using symbols and tools to signify and perform action, humans are unique in their capacity for reflection on symbols. "Symbol" here encompasses not just language, but any action that conveys meaning.

Burke is also responsible for calling greater attention to rhetoric's capacity for identification, not just persuasion. Whereas persuasion is the focus of the ancients, with plenty of theory around how to best move an audience to action, identification has to do with the rhetor's ability to build a relationship between themselves and their audience.

Some important works
Language as Symbolic Action Attitudes Toward History A Grammar of Motives
 * "Definition of Man"
 * "Terministic Screens"
 * "A Dramatistic View on the Origins of Language"
 * "Comic Correctives"
 * "Good Life"

The Philosophy of Literary Form
 * "The Rhetoric of Hitler's 'Battle'"