ipl-logo

I Have A Dream Speech Rhetorical Analysis

837 Words4 Pages

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is very historical and influential. Dr. King gave his speech on August 28, 1963. He gave this speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. It was a part of the March on Washington, where 250,000 people gathered. It was one of the biggest demonstrations the nation’s capital has ever seen. Dr. King was a Baptist minister that was extremely involved in trying to end racial discrimination. Dr. King’s speech is known as “a masterpiece of rhetoric” by scholars. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech makes good use of the rhetorical triangle. The rhetorical triangle is composed of ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos is convincing the audience that the author …show more content…

King’s speech through his use of logic and evidence. Dr. King says, “It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’” This is an analogy. He reasons that everyone can relate to and understand this because money is such a predominant thing in life. Another thing he does is logically speak about discrimination and segregation. One example of this is when he said, “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, 'When will you be satisfied? ' We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.” He is saying that nothing is going to get better until discrimination and segregation are eliminated.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech was a major turning point in American history and represented a firm stand for equal rights. He spoke out to confront the issue of race inequality in the nation. This speech was an influential and historical moment in the fight for equal rights of everyone. Dr. King will forever be known for his famous speech. His use of rhetoric throughout the speech is what made it so powerful and

Show More
Related

John Lewis 'A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Book' March

1458 Words | 6 Pages

March Rhetorical Analysis The 1960’s civil rights movement often used persuasive language to echo the unheard voices of many individuals. Some more than others possessed the ability to exercise their potent use of language to bring forward prominent changes. In the book, March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, eloquent methods of speech play an important role. John Lewis, Martin Luther King, and George Wallace are some that expressed their beliefs through persuasive empowering words.

Read More

Letter From Birmingham Jail Logos

498 Words | 2 Pages

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is an influential and important figure in African American history and the civil rights movement. He peacefully fought for equal treatment between whites and blacks. He never backed down, holding his head up high. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is famous for his “I Have a Dream” speech and his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Both influenced many to join in his fight for equal rights, but his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was more effective in this struggle.

Read More

March On Washington Speech Rhetorical Analysis

1236 Words | 5 Pages

Deluged with remarkable linguistics, King’s rhetoric wholly epiphanized and unified a country that had been stricken with unrest by war and hate and thus became the epitome of the March on Washington and the summation of the Civil Rights Movement Summarized Speech The speech encapsulates the desire to remain equal among the exalted American people, those of White color. At the outset King utilizes a policy signed 100 years ago as reference to a declaration of freedom that has only been contorted to produce new boundaries on freedom;

Read More

How Does Martin Luther King Use Pathos In I Have A Dream

886 Words | 4 Pages

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech had a great deal of logos and pathos appeals to persuade his audience to speak out against segregation and to give all men the rights they deserve. He often gave a clear line of reasoning supported by evidence in his speech, like when he says: “This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”... America has defaulted on this promissory note, ... given the Negro people a bad check… which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” (King para. 4)

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream Speech

624 Words | 3 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader in the African American Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, he was known for his nonviolent movements and methods of protesting. This involved many African American citizens to take verbal and physical abuse from the police and not being able to do anything about it. He used his words to inspire the nation into taking action, instead of promoting violence. Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of thousands of United States citizen from all different backgrounds at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Kings uses ethos to point out why segregation was unjust and to justify why African Americans deserves the same rights as the white citizens of the United States.

Read More

Rhetorical Elements Of Mlk's I Have A Dream Speech

976 Words | 4 Pages

By using the rhetorical features, MLK’s speech reached a different level of effectiveness for his audience. Using credibility, authority, trustworthiness and similarity to build a relationship by using evidence, MLK achieved ethos. Then by stating his values and creating imagery achieved but hos vocabulary he effective used pathos. Finally, by his clarity, goals, evidence and consistency, MLK appropriately reached his audience logical and effectively using logos. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered for his great speeches, accomplishments and his leadership skills, but also for the sincerity of his heart for the freedom and unity of all people.

Read More

I Have A Dream Rhetorical Analysis Essay

770 Words | 4 Pages

King argues that, “It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned... America has given its colored people a bad check." this instils pathos because this causes the audience to invoke pity or sadness for African Americans, thus persuading people to rethink how people are being treated by using an analogy to compare civil rights to a check that's gone bad. King uses parallel syntax in his speeches, to help the audience comprehend the point he is trying to get across.

Read More

I Have A Dream Speech Rhetorical Essay

804 Words | 4 Pages

On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr gave us one of one of the most rhetorically moving speeches ever given. Titled as the “I Have a Dream Speech,” he read this speech to the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”. As a civil right mover he gave this great speech to all Americans (black and white) so that he could give off the idea of equality on the same level. Because of his crowd of mix races King made sure to make his speech imploring to all no matter what the race that they may be. He uses metaphorical imagery, powerful diction,and symbolism to create an impact on the audience.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

1013 Words | 5 Pages

During the era of the civil rights movements in the 60s, among the segregation, racism, and injustice against the blacks, Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the Lincoln Memorial to deliver one of the greatest public speeches for freedom in that decade. In Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech he effectively uses ethos, diction and powerful metaphors to express the brutality endured by African American people. Yet his most important method of reaching his audience, and conveying his enduring message of equality and freedom for the whole nation was his appeal to pathos. With these devices, King was able to move thousands of hearts and inspire the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Opening his speech Martin Luther King Jr. sets up his credibility with his use of ethos, referring to the Declaration of Independence saying, “This note was a promise that all men… would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life.”

Read More

The Power Of Words In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech

471 Words | 2 Pages

Words can change the world in many ways. Many of those ways can really make an impact on a person’s life or mind set. In the speech “I Have A Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it proved to solidify the peace and fairness that he aimed to gain in this country by ending segregation between black and white people. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. vividly painted his vision of a better future for people of all colors in America.

Read More

Compare And Contrast I Have A Dream And Martin Luther King Jr.

719 Words | 3 Pages

Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have a Dream” is vastly recognized as one of the best speeches ever given. His passionate demand for racial justice and an integrated society became popular throughout the Black community. His words proved to give the nation a new vocabulary to express what was happening to them. Martin was famously a pacifist, so in his speech, he advocated peaceful protesting and passively fighting against racial segregation.

Read More

Figurative Language In Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream Speech

1110 Words | 5 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most well-known and critically acclaimed speeches of all time. Every child, every teenager, every adult has at some point in their lives heard King’s speech. They have heard the words “I have a dream” ring through the air. The success of King’s speech is not accidental by any means. King’s speech bears many of the hallmarks of a strong persuasive speech.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

914 Words | 4 Pages

King also discusses his personal life, along with his family and children, to show the crowd that he is fighting for the same things as them. In his I Have a Dream speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. used ethos to increase his credibility with his audience, pathos to appeal to his audience’s emotional side, and logos to appeal to his audience’s logical side. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s use of ethos begins in the first few lines of his I Have a Dream speech. He begins the speech with a direct reference to Abraham Lincoln and his Gettysburg Address. King speaks of Lincoln as an admired figure in the Civil Rights Movement when he states “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation” (King 84).

Read More

Examples Of Ethos In I Have A Dream Speech

963 Words | 4 Pages

On August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a famous speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and freedom, this speech was called “I have a dream.” This speech was focused on ending racism and equal rights for African Americans during the civil rights movement. He displays a great amount of pathos, logos, and ethos in his speech. Martin Luther King Jr. displays pathos by targeting the audience’s emotion by talking about his American dream that could also be other peoples too. He shows logos by giving a sense of hope to the people that better things will come in time.

Read More

Purpose Of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

995 Words | 4 Pages

Martin Luther King 's uses various literary devices such as metaphors, personification, similes, and imagery in his speech so that his audience would be able to better understand and visual what he is saying. An example of a metaphor in King 's speech is when he compares the deprivation of African American rights with "a bad check that has come back from the bank of injustice marked with insufficient funds". He states that we must cash a check that will give us the riches of freedom and security of justice. This metaphor is referring to the freedom and rights that African American 's deserve and are promised but are not given. An example of personification in his speech is "Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

Read More

More about I Have A Dream Speech Rhetorical Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document