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Rhetorical Devices In Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

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Power in Rhetorical Devices Often time’s rhetorical devices are the power behind some of the most famous speeches and writings in the World! Martin Luther King Jr. is a wonderful example. Throughout his “I Have a Dream Speech” he often used rhetorical devices. These devices can be very useful to grab the reader’s attention. Rhetorical devices keep the writing or speech different and more interesting so they aren’t monotone and make the reader or listener bored. Martin Luther King Jr. starts off his speech with a rhetorical device, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” (King) He exaggerates how his speech will be famous and known to everyone, this gets people interested in his topic and makes them want to hear and listen more to see what it is actually about. “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exhalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight” (King) He over exaggerates that …show more content…

One of the last rhetorical devices he uses is alliteration. Alliteration keeps the reader more in tune by using a rhythm to go along with. “We’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check.” (King) He used this form of alliteration to inform the people why he was there.

These are all in just one speech, imagine how many more there are throughout the World. Rhetorical devices make reading a book or listening to a speech much more interesting and less of a lecture. They keep the information alive and even help the reader or listener make sense of the information. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech became one of the most famous speeches of all time, because he used many rhetorical devices to help keep the audience alive and motivated. This is how rhetorical devices can change a lecture or just a piece of paper into a work of

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