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What rhetorical device does dr king use in paragraph 3 of his famous " i have a dream speech
Compare and contrast Dr Martin Luther King's I have a dream speach and the letter from the birmingham jail
Literary devices in dr. martin luther king’s speech, “i have a dream”
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In King’s letter from Birmingham jail, he structures his piece by providing what the white majority has to say, and then afterwards he explains what he has to say. Throughout his piece King summarizes what the white majority has to say, and then he counters it. One example where he uses summary is when he summarizes the white majority’s idea that the non-violent demonstration King took part in was untimely. He starts off his summary with, “One of the basic point in your statement is that the action that I and my associates have been taken in Birmingham is untimely…” He then goes more specific and explains that the white majority is asking why they did not give the city administration more time to act, and continues to summarize the white
King, Letter from a Birmingham Jail 1. What, according to King, is the purpose of direct action, and why does the SCLC engage in direct action rather than in negotiation? Through negotiation is helpful and a strong method to use when wanting to revolt and turn against an unfair system, direct action is way stronger. Direct action, as described and explained by King, is important because it creates an uncomfortable environment for people versus the usual safe and calm environment.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an inspirational speaker during the civil rights era. Dr. King had goals to fight for equality among all races. In the letter, "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marks new ideas about tension, his 4 step plan, and non-violence approaches. In this letter, Dr. King is showing he is not an outsider but an advocate through the situations of segregation and racial injustices. While writing his letter, Dr. King asserts that his activities are not "unwise and untimely" through the use of various rhetorical devices and appeals.
In the King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” he places an emphasis on how the clergy men and him hold similar values. Throughout the letter we see the King use language to show how they both share concern for their families. (maybe add another idea) One way that we see the King do this is by addressing the men as “Fellow clergymen”, the intention behind this is for the clergymen to trust him more. By studying the language of the letter we can learn a lot about the true motive of the letter.
In both the speech and the letter, Dr. King was very inspirational. His use of pathos helped push his point across to everyone. His use of pathos inspired people that weren't stuck in their ways or that weren't ready for change. The overall message Dr. King tried to spread was segregation needs to stop, and he tried to do this by arousing strong feelings and emotions in people through his use of charged language.
The students of Nashville College believed that King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” provided them justification for conducting sit-ins, and boycotts of public areas. King’s letter discussed that in order for negotiations to be made people must first create “tens[ion] and force people “to confront the issue”(2). This idea of tension shows that public demonstrations are the only way that leads to negotiation on Civil Rights. Therefore, King’s letter insinuated that for there to be change, people must do protests like sit-ins. Another way King’s letter gave premise for the students protesting was because he states that “freedom is never voluntarily given” however, “must be demanded by the oppressed.
The letter from Birmingham jail is a strong persuasive letter, especially for its audience, clergymen. King used all kinds of methods, logos, ethos, pathos. He is very insightful about his audience. King, as a clergyman himself, understand what other clergymen’s perspective and what they believe in. To start this letter, King addresses the recipient as “dear fellow clergymen”.
In April 1963 Martin Luther King was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, for organizing demonstrations against unjust segregation laws. While in jail, he read a letter written by eight clergymen who denounced his demonstrations. King answered the clergymen in a letter now known as "Letters from Birmingham Jail." A study of American history reveals that King was justified in leading demonstrations against unjust segregation (Jim Crow) laws. To begin, in April 12, 1966 several Alabama Clergymen wrote an open letter to Martin Luther King criticizing his actions during his demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama.
King’s main idea was to respond to the clergymen who had recently - in that time – made article entailing that his movements and actions were “unwise and untimely”. He unwittingly portrayed his position in these movements and adding points in religious texts that his actions were done before. In Letter from a Birmingham Jail, King apologizes to those who see civil disobedience as an act of defiance towards the nation. He elaborates on his actions explaining that laws are meant to be broken if unjust actions are taken place. Kings responds to the remarks of those who oppose him by adding a statement of his daughter where he has to explain why she is not allow into the amusement park.
Martin Luther King was willing to sacrifice his freedom, and his life to obtain and justify racial equality all throughout America. In the “letter from Birmingham Jail” King writes about many terrible and violent acts the whites committed against the blacks. Dr. King also goes in further discussing about how tough it is for the black children to learn with all the discrimination. “When you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Fun town is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people….” Dr. King uses an effective use of appeal because it gives the reader an issue which most can relate too.
Before 1963, it was a time of segregation and differences between whites and blacks. One of the states that was widely affected with racism and segregation was Birmingham, Alabama. During this time, people wanted a change which led to protests and movements. Martin Luther King was an activist that was put in jail for protesting. During his sentence, he wrote a letter indicating the change he wanted to make.
In Dr.King’s letter, he had more time than he could have asked for to write this. He wanted to show the white clergymen that they were wrong and judged him wrong. So, King used more logical appeals in this letter like putting in facts that would back up his statement rather than the speech. King uses allusions first off to link his actions to others that have done similar things in the past.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an important figure in gaining civil rights throughout the 1960’s and he’s very deserving of that title as seen in both his “I Have a Dream” speech and his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” letter. In both of these writings Dr. King uses logos - logical persuasion - and pathos - emotional appeal - to change the opinions of people who were for segregation and against civil rights. Although King was arrested for a nonviolent protest, he still found a way to justify his actions with the use of logos and pathos. MLK uses both ways to gain the attention and agreement of the audience but, he uses pathos not just more, but in a more relatable way in order to appeal to his audience.
Dr. King's, "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" is poignant in many ways in regard to a "big picture" viewpoint of our society. Overall, it speaks to the viewpoint that we all have a social responsibility to each other to work against injustice irrespective of where that injustice takes place. "Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail, which was written in April 16, 1963, is a passionate letter that addresses and responds to the issue and criticism that a group of white clergymen had thrown at him and his pro- black American organization about his and his organization's non- violent demonstrative actions against racial prejudice and injustice among black Americans in Birmingham. Dr. King told the local clergy in Birmingham that he understood he was an outsider and he realized that his presence in Birmingham would cause trouble. However, he also felt that he had a moral
Martin Luther King Jr. uses both logical and emotional appeals in order for all his listeners’ to be able to relate and contemplate his speeches. He does an exceptional job using both these appeals throughout his speeches by backing up his emotional appeals with logical ones. Using emotional appeals captures an audience's attention and makes them think about what the narrator is saying. Emotional appeal uses intense words and charged language to grab listeners to get them to keep listening. On the other hand, logical appeals helps to grasp the concept better and provides facts that prove it to be true.
