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I Have A Dream Speech Rhetorical Devices

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On August 28, 1963, a speech was delivered during the March on Washington for 250,000 people to hear. The speaker was Martin Luther King Jr, a visionary leader and advocate for equality. The purpose of the speech was to give hope to the people who face injustice and segregation. In his speech, Martin Luther utilizes repetition and tone to form his style. The quote “I have a dream” was used in his speech eight different times. I infer that through the use of that quote, he molds his tone, giving a tone of joy and hopefulness for the future of America. While MLK does use the quote “I have a dream” eight times, we see another style of repetition when he discusses freedom for all of God’s children. The quote we see repeating there is “Free at last” …show more content…

This use of chronological structure helps the reader understand the speech effectively. By guiding the reader through the past to the present, the reader has an understanding of what is to come and what is to be expected of the speech. In summary, this organizational structure gives context to the reader and helps them follow through with the speech. Martin Luther King Junior uses persuasive devices such as statistics, the rule of three, and repetition. With the line “I say to you, my friends, that despite the difficulties and frustration of the moment, I still have a dream,” we see MLK using statistics by using the words “I” and “You.” The usage of statistics ensures that the reader knows who the speaker is and who the speaker is talking to, creating a sort of nonexistent …show more content…

Similar to repetition and how it repeatedly creates this urge to the message being told, it is similar to imagery, which is commonly used in MLK’s speech. The first use of imagery we hear in his speech is when MLK compares the Emancipation Proclamation as a “great beacon of hope.” MLK describes the great beacon of hope as a light illuminating the path of freedom for millions of enslaved people. Following the previous quote, the words “seared in the flames of withering injustice” are used. The words there are also used in imagery talking of the intense suffering and oppression of the enslaved people. The use of imagery is very effective in displaying creativity for the reader because as the reader reads, they also imagine and create images in their minds, envisioning what the words mean. MLK’s use of words was very empowering, not only did he deliver them in such an excellent way, but the emotion you felt from his speech was incredible. In MLK’s statement about his dream, it gives you a sense of hope and optimism. MLK’s dream was to unite men and women of all different races who sought to end racial discrimination and create a paradise where skin color did not

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The speech called “I Have a Dream” was MLK’s way to get civil rights back to his people which were African Americans. He used many example such as when he said “One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” (King,Pg.261). This Quote from the speech is pathos because it tells us that they are sad and crippled which might make people feel sorry for them and want to help them out. This speech also has many examples logos too, one is “When the architects of our republic wrote the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir” (King,Pg.261).

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the biggest players in the Civil Rights Movement and he wrote/spoke two famous works, his “I have a Dream” speech and his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” of which both had a different purpose and audience. He used different rhetorical techniques depending on the purpose and the audience that he is targeting with the work such as Logos (Logic) and Pathos (Passion). In Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech his purpose is to encourage people to keep peacefully protesting and not to lose hope or start getting violent. The audience that he speaks to are Civil Rights supporters that want equal rights for all races.

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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.

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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.

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1069 Words | 5 Pages

“In expressing [his own emotions] with such powerful eloquence, in connecting strongly with the emotions of his listeners, and in convincing them to empathize with others, Dr. King demonstrated emotional intelligence decades before the concept had a name”(“Dr. Martin”). He demanded to end racism throughout the entire United States. King utilized repetition, metaphors, diction and rhetorical devices, that provokes ethos and pathos, throughout his speech in order to connect with his audience as well as to motivate them to stand up and fight for their freedom they well-deserve. One of the most used literary elements throughout Martin Luther King’s speech are diction, which leads to rhetorical devices such as, ethos, logos, and pathos.

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Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most influential African-American activists in American History and was a key participant in the Civil Rights movement, the goal of which was to provide full civil rights to all rights in America. MLK has written many, many speeches and letters in favor of the Civil Rights movement in America, the most famous of them being his legendary “I Have a Dream” Speech and the monumental “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. To attempt to gain support for his cause, MLK employs the use of emotional appeals, also known as pathos, and logical appeals, also known as logos, which aid to stir emotion and reasoning in the listener. It is more than obvious that MLK tends to tug at the heartstrings of his listeners with his emotionally charged language essential to his success. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. uses more powerful and plentiful examples of pathos in his literature, examples of which being his “I Have a Dream” speech and his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, than logos due to the more powerful emotional connection they carry which can convince his listeners to sympathize with his civil rights movement.

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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.

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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.

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466 Words | 2 Pages

In paragraphs 16-24 he repeats the phrase “I have a dream.” This is an example of repetition. MLK also uses analogy in his speech in paragraph 4. In the text, King compares American civil rights to cashing a bad check. King compares the two to show how worthless the promise of African Americans civil rights is.

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904 Words | 4 Pages

By using these rhetorical devices, King successfully inspired emotion in his audience and gave them hope for a possible bright future. We can see that Martine Luther King use several rhetorical devices within the speech to grab attention of the people who were engaged with the unjust oppression. First of all, in the beginning of his speech, he made a connection alluded to Lincoln’s speech ‘‘Five score years ago…’’ (Line 2.1, page1) this line referred to the Gettysburg Address, presenting by the United States president. King used it to enhance credibility primarily because of Lincoln’s high position related with civil rights.

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914 Words | 4 Pages

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an extremely impactful activist during the Civil Rights Movement that gave over 2,500 speeches in his lifetime. Of these speeches, his most popular is his famous I Have a Dream speech that he gave on August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C. during the March on Washington. Even famous speakers like Martin Luther King, Jr. use persuasive techniques to appeal to the different sides of their audiences. In order to appeal to his predominately African American audience, Martin Luther King, Jr. makes reference to Abraham Lincoln and his granting freedom to slaves by signing the Emancipation Proclamation.

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837 Words | 4 Pages

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

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794 Words | 4 Pages

Uses of rhetorical devices in “I Have a Dream” Speech Have you ever wondered what Martin Luther King Jr. would say if he saw us now? He would say, “Good Job.” Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was given out on August 28, 1963, and was also meant for diverse men of race, religion and ethnic group to be the audience. Dr. King used metaphors, allusions, and repetition in his speech to try to better convey with the audience to try to make a difference.

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874 Words | 4 Pages

I have a dream speech Analysis Martin Luther king Jr once said,“ I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration of freedom in the history of our nation.” He addressed these words on August of 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial after marching through the streets of Washington. He addressed segregation injustice and racial discrimination against African Americans that took place during his era, in his “I have a dream speech.” He recognized that american was founded on freedom, democracy where each individual has a voice and matters. Only few weeks back protesters were getting arrested for fighting for equality.

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Another practice MLK uses throughout his speech is the wide use of anaphors. To influence his audience efficaciously he mentions “I have a dream”, “One hundred years later”, “let the freedom ring” due which the audience gain a preserving feeling. The intense use of anaphora elevates his speech and make his speech more powerful, memorable and quotable. The tone being used by MLK is informatory. His tone possess an essence of argumentation and description.

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