ipl-logo

Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Speech

639 Words3 Pages

Kyle Seager Dr. Restivo AP English Language and Composition 4 November 2014 JFK Rhetorical Analysis President Kennedy inspires the American populace through his figurative language and uplifting tone. President Kennedy employs a wide array of rhetorical techniques to inspire the American population. Kennedy wastes no time in building up to these techniques; on the contrary his first actual sentence of the speech employs antithesis in the line "symbolizing an end as well as a beginning- signifying renewal as well as a change." This antithesis serves to create comparisons between what has come before Kennedy in Truman and Eisenhower, as well as to provide hope and new direction for the incumbent presidency. In this case, Kennedy's language …show more content…

Kennedy’s anaphoric repetition of the phrase “To those" creates a list of promises to various entities. Again Kennedy applies antithesis and parallel structure; this time in order to illustrate the importance of unity with America's allies in the fight against communism. Kennedy creates personification as well as alliteration by asserting that in newly democratic and free nations, the former "colonial control" has passed away. This is followed by a caveat to these newly democratic nations about the dangers of giving too much power to one person or group with the metaphor of being consumed by a tiger. This caveat also resembles Chinese proverbs through parallel structure. Kennedy's promises extend far and wide, from allies to developing nations. When addressing these developing nations Kennedy captures the reader's attention through conduplicatio in the line "help them help themselves." Kennedy's next line "If a free society cannot... the few who are rich" creates parallel structure and demonstrates the depth of his commitment to helping others. Kennedy repeatedly employs conduplicatio and metaphor in his penultimate paragraph of the "To those" section of his speech. The first of these metaphors "casting off the chains of poverty" shows the US's economic commitment to the "sister republics" in South and Central America while the second a "revolution of hope" evokes idyllic scenery. The final metaphor is also a historical allusion as it is a direct reference to the Monroe Doctrine. The last paragraph of this section beginning "To that world assembly" is characterized by conduplicatio and alliteration. The conduplicatio evident in the line "instruments of war...instruments of peace" serves to broach the topic of conflict and segue into the next section of Kennedy's

Show More
Related

Rhetorical Devices In Jfk Inaugural Address

739 Words | 3 Pages

The 35th American President, John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address, which he delivered after he just won the president seat, reclaimed his purpose as a successful and competent leader. JFK’s purpose was to not only demonstrate his amity towards the world, but also encourage his people to devote themselves to America. He used repetition and parallelism as his rhetorical strategies in order to convey to his audience, which includes both Americans and international people, the idea that America needs them to create a peaceful world in a nuclear age. After emphasizing the importance of freedom to America, JFK demonstrated his friendly attitude by using repetition to list his position toward some large or important organizations in the

Read More

Rhetorical Devices In Jfk Inaugural Address

757 Words | 4 Pages

It also serves to establish that the United States will ensure its promise of liberty, and will not succumb to any nations that threatens to destroy it. The additional use of asyndeton gives the sentence a rhythm that makes it more memorable to the audience. From Paragraphs fifteen to eighteen, Kennedy uses anaphora. At the beginning of each clause he repeats, “Let both sides”. After doing this he goes on to mention all the great things that can be achieved if both sides cooperated.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Kennedy's Inaugural Address

1817 Words | 8 Pages

The torch being passed to a new generation is a metaphor which Kennedy uses to show that the original colonists’ ideals were not beginning forgotten but instead carried

Read More

Use Of Rhetorical Devices In Jfk Speech

754 Words | 4 Pages

In these five stanzas of parallelism, he confronts the world with an option between war and peace, no matter if they are an enemy or ally. Using unity as an argument he makes the audience question their stance in the world since his strong statement destroys individual nationalism, instead it creates a culturally unified country filled with justice and nationalism on a larger scale. We also see John F. Kennedy using a pathos approach throughout his

Read More

Rhetorical Devices In Jfk Inaugural Address

687 Words | 3 Pages

John F. Kennedy implements parallelism in order to construct his ideas about what the country must begin to do in the future. Near the start of his address he proclaims, “We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, or oppose any foe,”(5) in order to continue to thrive as a nation. His use of parallelism in clauses proves his desire to prove that liberty and

Read More

Rhetorical Devices In Jfk Inaugural Address

416 Words | 2 Pages

Metaphor is a figure of speech that refers to something as being the same as another thing for rhetorical effect. It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two ideas. In this phrase “To those people in the huts and villages of half globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them, help themselves, for whatever period is required—-not because communist may be doing it. ”The phrase figures that people are afflicted in “mass misery” as “bonds” through Metaphor rhetorical strategy. Kennedy vividly changed the abstract theory to easily understanding things.

Read More

Juxtaposition In Jfk Inaugural Address

470 Words | 2 Pages

By signifying the time, it is signifying change for the new era, inspiring the audience to support the ideas Kennedy has prepared. This also symbolizes the audience’s excitement to the change by using words like celebration and victory. This helps create positivity to the new “beginning” that is coming. The juxtaposition used in John F. Kennedy’s writing has strengthened his argument and

Read More

Jfk Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis

726 Words | 3 Pages

When observing the use of anaphoras, people argue Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech is more impactful than John F. Kennedy’s “Inaugural Address”. However, JFK is more direct with his point and has a stronger persuasive point for unity. John F. Kennedy uses anaphora strategically in his “Inaugural Address” to express the unwavering importance of national unity. By using the powerful phrase “to those,” coupled with specific groups of people, he effectively personalizes his message and ensures that it resonates with the intended audience. By addressing the “old allies” of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy conveyed that the USA would not isolate itself from any challenge.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis: Kennedy's Inaugural Speech

1141 Words | 5 Pages

Also, he is stating to never be afraid and figure out ways to face them. By doing this, Kennedy left a greater impact on people by making his speech more

Read More

Summary Of Jfk Inaugural Address

1003 Words | 5 Pages

However, the use of anaphora connects them by voicing that not just one side should be doing these things, and that although someone is an enemy, Kennedy does not wish unpleasant things on them. He also asked the rhetorical question “Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?” (Kennedy 25). By calling out each specific audience member in that last question by using direct language such as the use of the word “you”, he is giving each of them the feeling of responsibility and power.

Read More

Jfk Inaugural Address Tone

1459 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More

John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

629 Words | 3 Pages

To begin, Kennedy’s organized plan and clear repetition allows the audience to understand his intentions for America. Kennedy begins his speech by addressing the extremely urgent issues of America in 1961 and then offers to let America and other nations “begin anew” and “let both sides” unite in freedom. This structure admits an understanding of the need for a new America; a need for change. This also helps the audience realize that they need more than just themselves.

Read More

Ethos And Logos In John F Kennedy's Speech

587 Words | 3 Pages

He displays personification in his speech by quoting,”Now the summons us again-not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need;not as to call to battle ,but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle rejoicing in hope.” This quote uses a trumpet to symbolize a call for serenity and not warfare. The trumpet shows the struggle between poverty,tyranny, and war itself to find happiness and promise in the world. Finally, Kennedy uses repetition in lines 15-28 stating “Let both sides” to display a need for

Read More

Jfk Inaugural Speech Rhetorical Analysis

593 Words | 3 Pages

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms-- and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.” Kennedy continues to use “ Let both sides” grab the attention of the audience and show how important this subject is. Another literary device Kennedy uses is symbolism. For example, “ The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of

Read More

Logos And Pathos In Jfk's Speech

580 Words | 3 Pages

His diction is very inclusive; he commences his speech with several uses of the words ‘we’ and ‘our’, which makes way for inclusivity. JFK is blurring the distinction between citizen and superior governor by including the people in his proclamation. While describing the hardships and challenges that the country is facing, Kennedy mentions how imperative the occasion is on a global level; in the midst of the Cold War, he reminds his audience of the importance of uniting. Through the use of the lexical field of danger — words such as: ‘defiance’, ‘serious’, ‘risk’, and ‘sacrifice’ — he creates a feeling of tension and urgency, and engages his audience to the concern. To conclude his speech, the President mentions self-guilt on the part of the country on how they had not displayed the “sense of business responsibility” that they should have, a rhetorical strategy that approximates the audience to the government.

Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Speech

Open Document