Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr

Johnson, Christopher
Mr. Shipp
English 1, Block 3
5/24/23
What It Means To Be King

Martin Luther King Jr uses literary devices and figurative language throughout his speech to grab the audience and reach out to them through his words and inspire the people. Martin Luther King Jr uses Metaphors, which means “ A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.” He also uses repetition throughout his paragraphs, which means “when a word is repeated several times.” MLK uses Metaphors throughout his speech by using comparisons between the Negro people and a bad check coming back marked insufficient funds. “ America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has

Martin Luther King Jr has a dream when he says “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” King states this to give the listeners hope that maybe one day their children will see the changes that the Nation is trying to build. He hopes by the end of all of the protests and the speeches that one day it won't be because of skin color or the way you talk. He wants to make a statement, a statement that when you hear it, you feel it, it gives you a heartwarming feeling. “Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.” This statement is used throughout paragraphs 20-24. This is repeated continuously throughout the speech because he wants to get the point across, that he isn't going to get rid of slavery in just his city but in every

“No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Justice and righteousness are compared to water and a stream; but what does water have to do with justice? He compares the two to give a vision of a mighty stream flushing down a bank to them marching down the streets and protesting. He wants them to make a statement with what they're doing, dont make a splash, make a whole stream. Another example of figurative language is “One hundred years later the negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land.” This line hits deep to the heart, he wanted to emphasize that the negros have been freed but yet still not seen and their voice is still not heard. The streets they grew up in are now put up with signs that say “Only Whites.” They have been put down and have taken beatings from random bystanders. He has a dream that will