Jfk Inaugural Address Tone

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In a speech, it is of the utmost importance to not only retain a constant attentiveness in the listeners by engaging their thoughts and reasoning to the theme. In order to give listeners a proper understanding of the depth and magnitude of an idea, speakers use specific techniques to connect listeners to the idea. Tone is among the most important strategy in a speech due to its ability to persuade or sway listeners for or against an idea. In his Inaugural Address, President John F. Kennedy uses an reverent tone to illustrate the significance of his presented conclusions and ideas: Rhetorical strategies and approaches are utilized in his speech to signify his tone. Throughout his speech, Kennedy uses these devices to present his desired tone. …show more content…

This is stated in a manner that inspires people to live to their greatness, and Kennedy specifically uses imagery as a way to give value to common people. In this piece, Kennedy portrays what their responsibilities are as a legacy that needs to be withheld. A strategic device that Kennedy uses to enhance is tone is the way he structures his sentence. The segment is both a long and loose sentence. Reaching over 50 words, this statement grants him easy elaboration of his idea and enough description to improve his tone. This sentence’s loose structure enhances his tone by giving each piece of insight in a way that stresses the power of the american people, and each piece is segmented in a way that shows understanding of the gravity of situation that he and his listeners have taken upon themselves. These segments are specialized in a way that inspire reflection of the responsibility the listeners have. Having phrases like “we are the heirs of that first revolution,” Kennedy can effectively present his meaning and purpose of the speech. The imagery in this section contributes to the tone that Kennedy is using because it creates a sense of a grand estate bestowed to the new generation. In this, he can effectively place emphasis on the theme being presenting. In the phrases used, the ability to create a sublime feeling can be …show more content…

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah一to "undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free" (Kennedy). In this excerpt, Kennedy expresses his desire to see a united world coming together for common goals. Kennedy uses a repetitive style in his reflection of what he wants resolved and changed, to be more persuasive in his proposals. By restating “let both sides,” Kennedy not only wants to bring about connection, but resolution. Through the anaphora of the piece, Kennedy repeatedly gives each request after the next in a tone that is impactful to the listeners. Kennedy’s repetition gives a reverent tone not simply due to his restating, but his relentless statement of undeniable change. These repetitions singularly part into phrases that are used by Kennedy to give listeners an image to ponder upon. In one segment in which Kennedy says “Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.” By giving the image of a unified concurrent world verging on the brink of a new frontier, Kennedy can present his explanation in a tone that shows the ambitiousness and caliber of his theme of his ideas. Another way that Kennedy structures his sentences is by stating a conflict immediately followed by a resolution. He uses this form of syntax to give a problem that is fixed through an