ipl-logo

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Kathleen Blanco's Speech

918 Words4 Pages

Andrew Sims
Ms. Perrine
English 4th Period
22 February 2023
Bye Katrina!
In this speech, Kathleen Blanco, the former governor of Louisiana, utilizes rhetorical devices, syntax, and diction to formulate a compelling speech about Hurricane Katrina. She uses rhetorical devices like pathos and ethos, syntax such as repetition, and diction that sets a specific tone for the audience. This speech takes place on December 18, 2019. Blanco gave this speech to the Louisiana legislature in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The purpose of this speech is to demand that Louisiana be rebuilt, and to express that people affected by the traumatic tragedy are capable of fighting through the challenge. Additionally, she thanks and honors the people such as …show more content…

Additionally, she stated how she intended to provide Louisiana with ways to do that. Blanco says, “We will rebuild. Americans rebuilt Washington when the British burned it to the ground. We rebuilt Chicago after the great fire. We rebuilt San Francisco after the earthquake. And we are rebuilding New York City after 9/11. We will rebuild New Orleans and the surrounding parishes, because that is what Americans do.” As I stated before, this quote is filled with references where communities faced with a problem used union, determination, and whatever they had to prevail. This repetition compares past events to the situation they are now faced with. In addition, Blanco states, “We will drain the water from our neighborhoods. We will clean up the debris and contamination. We will rebuild our levees, roads and bridges and we will recreate our communities.” This piece of repetition provides the intentions Blanco has for reconstruction. With these statements, the audience is able to understand the burden Blanco has put on herself to benefit the …show more content…

This influential speech inspires the people of Louisiana while demanding support from the Louisiana legislature. Blanco uses ethos to honor the people who provided safety and shelter for survivors, and refers to the Louisiana legislature to answer the call of action. She uses pathos by being sympathetic towards the families affected by this devastating hurricane. Moreover, she uses repetition to refer to other instances where communities have prevailed from horrific events and thrived. Finally, she employs both positive and negative diction to set the tone for the audience. With this culmination of literary devices, Blanco achieves her goal of mesmerizing the

Show More
Related

Rhetorical Analysis Of Bush And Blair's 9/11 Speech

1720 Words | 7 Pages

In addition, Bush’s speech is highly persuasive of the American people to take action and move forward, through effort, courage, and liberty. The facts that lay before the American nation and its people immediately following September 11, 2001 had been harrowing at the least, and life-sapping at worst. Yet, President Bush manages to maintain a resilient tone throughout the

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of When The Levees Broke

478 Words | 2 Pages

When The Levees Broke Rhetorical Analysis Essay On August 29th, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the coasts of southeastern Louisiana. Shortly after, New Orleans’ flood protection system failed, causing floodwalls and levees to topple and break. Covering major points in the film, as they broke, the lives, spirits, and thoughts of many Americans were also broken as well. In a documentary released on August 16, 2006, director Spike Lee utilizes rhetorical strategies to produce a profound vision into the city and it’s citizen’s internal devastation, grievance, and recovery of spirit, and our nation’s failure to assist; when the levees broke. The numerous incorporations of the emotional appeal strengthen Spike’s opinion in a unique way.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis: Michele Obama

218 Words | 1 Pages

She speaks about the problem and how it takes everyone in the community to work together to accomplish one goal. This makes the audience feel like they have an impact and the problem not only affect themselves but everyone in the country. Satisfaction: Michele Obama shares her own personal story and how great she felt after helping build

Read More

A Rhetorical Analysis Of President Obama's Eulogy

771 Words | 4 Pages

During a funeral for Reverend Clementa Pinckney, a Charleston shooting victim, President Obama delivered an influential eulogy. This eulogy turned out to be so powerful that it traveled throughout the internet and became known as one of Obama’s best speeches from the duration of his presidency. The speech resonated so well with many citizens because of its relatable content and connections to passionate issues in today’s society. The delivery of the eulogy played a gigantic part in its effectiveness to Americans as well. President Obama’s eulogy contained beyond relatable content and various connections to the issues racking society’s bones today.

Read More

The Atchafalaya Analysis

636 Words | 3 Pages

“The Atchafalaya” is an article by John McPhee, concerning the flow of the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya region. McPhee interviews several people who have jobs related to the river and the maintenance of the Atchafalaya’s water flow. The location of the Mississippi River is crucial because if it moves, it could potentially destroy all of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and, subsequently, their status as major shipping channels. Reading this article, I gained more insight on the importance of the river for the state of Louisiana and New Orleans. A quote in the article summarizes the reoccurring theme of society versus Mother Nature: “Man against nature.

Read More

9/11 Ethos Pathos Logos

1576 Words | 7 Pages

With everything that had happened that day and the emotions running so high among the people, looking at the president and how he addressed the American people went a long way in consoling those that needed a strong leader. The presentation of Bush’s speech was a necessary thing to do for a nation’s leader. However, Bush’s use of rhetoric goes above and beyond his normal presidential speeches; it developed a path between the leaders and the American people. We will never forget that day, but we will also remember how, as a nation, we came together to help those in dire need, and we will also recall how the president responded and addressed the nation in the midst of a national crisis. Bush also makes the statement in his speech that one of his future goals is that Americans, “. . .

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Obama Speech

873 Words | 4 Pages

(Obama, 2015, p.1) Explanation: Obama clearly states throughout his speech that he is here to celebrate America and Selma. A way to say look how far we have come. He feels that this was a stepping stone, a big moment in history that he admires.

Read More

First Lady For The United States Of America Rhetorical Devices

464 Words | 2 Pages

In her final speech as First Lady for the United States of America, Michelle Obama uses various rhetorical devices such as repetition, restatements of certain concepts, diction, and more to discuss her hope for the figure of the American people. The first thing Obama does is attempt to unite her audience. Her usage of diction - intentionally choosing words such as “belongs” or “proud”. Help bring the audience down to something they all have in common. By helping establish the people not as who they are necessarily, but instead what they are (American citizens), it gives a starting point for the rest of the discussion to continue.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

884 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout his speech, Barack Obama’s use of metaphor allows the audience to make powerful connections and conclusions; therefore, persuading them to support his plans. While analyzing past presidential inaugurations, Obama compares peace and prosperity to the ocean and economic crisis to gathering clouds and raging storms stating: “Forty-four Americans have now taken the

Read More

Elizabeth Alexander Praise Song For The Day Essay

2004 Words | 9 Pages

The people involved in the housing crisis and the loss of millions of dollars, Americans were desperate. "I know there’s something better down the road. \ We need to find a place where we are safe" (Alexander). Elizabeth Alexander gave the speech at a time when morale was low due to people facing the repercussion of the housing crisis. She emphasizes that people need to be optimistic about change in the future.

Read More

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama's Speech

941 Words | 4 Pages

Obama stating this in his speech also tells the audience if you want these horrible things to stop, put a democrat in office, and that the democratic party recognizes the issues that are occuring around the country. Obama using emotional appeal, creates pathos, which forces the audience to sympathize for the people in the story, and want to help them. Obama then goes on to state the Democratic Party can help, and can change their situation, and situations like the people in the examples he used for the better. This makes this speech great because it persuades the audience to the purpose of this speech, which is to support the Democratic

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Margaret Thatcher's Speech

722 Words | 3 Pages

The author repeated the word ‘to’ and a verb to show the vastness of his reach. Reagan wanted “to mend” America’s spirit, “to restore” strength in the world and “to free” (6-7) those in communist countries. These hard tasks to accomplish were met by Reagan with what Thatcher called “a lightness of spirit” (10). By repeating

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama's Audacity Of Hope

950 Words | 4 Pages

Obama’s use of repetition in his speech makes his praise of John Kerry more powerful and by using the same words in different contexts, he shows that his ideas are important and relevant to all people. For example, “It’s the hope of slaves sitting around a fire [...] the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant [...] the hope of a millworker’s son [...] the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name [...].” In this passage, the repetition of “the hope” applied to descriptions of different situations conveys the idea that everyone needs hope, and that America is a country built on hope. Obama also uses anaphora to drill certain ideas into the audience’s minds.

Read More

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama's Inaugural Speech

978 Words | 4 Pages

Barack Obama’s win for President in 2009 was a historical moment for the United States. His inaugural speech was much anticipated, because this was going to set the tone for his presidency. His speech told the American people that improving the economy is one of his priorities, but there were also other areas he would like to improve like healthcare and the education system. This was a speech that was meant to persuade the American public to take action for them to rise as a nation again, and for them to put their trust into him. His message addressed a couple of specific points like his gratefulness to the American people, the different crises America is facing, how America will overcome these crises, replying to his cynics, addressing the world, and then he reminded America again to be brave like they’ve always been to overcome the hard times (5 Speechwriting Lessons from Obama's Inaugural Speech, (n.d.).

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Obama Victory Speech

1221 Words | 5 Pages

He begins by building his credibility by showing that others who doubted the people of his country, tonight was their answer, and telling an anecdote about a old lady who had seen the country progress. Ultimately at the end, he ends his speech strongly by making the audience say “Yes, we can”, and getting applauded by the audience. In his speech, he focused on the major issues facing the United States and the world, all echoed through his campaign slogan of change. He also Madelyn Dunham, who died just two nights earlier.

Read More

More about A Rhetorical Analysis Of Kathleen Blanco's Speech

Related Topics

Open Document