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Rhetorical Techniques In Ted Kennedy's Speech

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On August 29, 2009, President Barack Obama gave a speech at the funeral of Ted Kennedy. He spoke fondly of Kennedy in front of his family to show his gratitude for working with him. Obama and Kennedy had a very warm, and genuine relationship; one of deep mutual admiration. In his speech, Obama uses metaphors, oxymorons, and imagery to praise and memorialize the life of Ted Kennedy to the audience. Ted Kennedy was considered, by most including President Obama, the “lion of the senate.” The rhetorical device used to compare Kennedy to a lion was a metaphor. This showed Kennedy was a fierce Senator and most likely respected by everyone in the court. He was also a “veritable force of nature” in the support of health care or workers’ rights and civil rights. This shows that Kennedy was a man one would not want to mess with when his head is set on a certain topic. Kennedy was a beast and a force no matter where he was, people saw and felt that vibe when they met him. He was also thought of as the “rock of the family.” This means he helped ground and keep together the Kennedys for as long as he lived. …show more content…

Both of these devices are examples of oxymorons used to make the audience think differently, and deeper about what they are listening to. They are phrases that have a deeper meaning than just what one might interpret. For example, a happy warrior is known as a politician who is undaunted and cheerful, even when in the face of adversity. This oxymoron was used to have people be inspired by Kennedy and how he was directed by a strong, inner light. He uses the phrase “restless dreamer” to describe Kennedy as a truly great man, who achieved several good things in his

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J.F Kennedy, the president of United States wanted to put the first Americans to the moon-America exploring the moon, so he directed his speech to the people of taxes and Rice University to promote his space exploration program that will help America to be the first country to explore the moon. He believes that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. Throughout J.F Kennedy's speech, the speaker makes effective use of evidence, reasoning, rhetorical elements, and rhetorical devices that together form his argument to gain people support for his space exploration program. J.F Kennedy was trying to prove his point of view by giving examples and using a lot of Rhetorical devices and appeals that would grab the reader's attention

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This makes it difficult for the audience to side against the facts stated by Kennedy. This use of diction corresponds to the diligence and indignance of Kennedy’s tone. He emotionally connects to the audience by reaching towards those families hurt by the Vietnam War “servicemen to risk their lives-and four were killed in the last two days”. By not only bringing

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he talks about helping the other half of the world and says “...but because it is right.” This statement deeply connects with the audience's emotions because it shows love for the rest of the world. This strategy uses pathos and uses them very effectively and makes his message palpable to his listeners. Getting people to trust that under Kennedy’s administration he will care for foreign people also subliminal conveys the message that he would help his people too. Kennedy does an excellent job of utilizing pathos to his advantage.

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Kennedy has experienced the loss of a loved one and has worked through it. This helps the audience feel as though they can do the same. Robert F. Kennedy goes light on the ethos in this circumstance because he doesn’t want the speech to be about him, but instead about Martin Luther King Jr. Robert F. Kennedy uses a large amount of logos in his speech to achieve the purpose of offering Americans a solution to moving forward in their lives.

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On page thirty-five paragraph five the text states, “I would only say that I can also feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man.” Robert F. Kennedy wants the audience to believe all that he says and he does so by developing credibility. Robert F. Kennedy is credible because he lost his brother to an assassin, as African Americans have lost Martin Luther King Jr. to an assassin. Robert F. Kennedy also uses the argumentative appeal of logos to support his argument.

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In the text, it states, “Indeed, Ted was the “Happy Warrior” that the poet William Wordsworth spoke of when he wrote: As tempted more; more able to endure, As more exposed to suffering and distress; Thence, also, more alive to tenderness (Obama 6). “ This quote showcases his use of allusions in his speech clearly. He uses allusions as a means to draw comparisons to a historical figure many know as William Shakespeare as to create a means to help people understand Ted Kennedy further by comparing him to a work of Shakespeare’s and therefore relate. By comparing Ted Kennedy to a work by a well-known poet, it adds a sort of professionalism. It shows that Obama knows what he’s talking about and by comparing Kennedy to this known writer’s work paints him in a bigger spotlight and makes him sound or appear like a more interesting person.

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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

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In the beginning of his speech Kennedy uses words like “unjustifiable,” and, “a responsible,” to show how he feels about the actions of the leading steel corporations. Later in his speech Kennedy uses the phrase “ruthless disregard of their public responsibilities,” to show his complete disagreement with the steel corporations and their decision to unreasonably raise the steel prices in America. By using negative words Kennedy is able to clearly get his opinion across to the audience of the press conference. In his speech there are many more examples of diction with the way he uses specific words. Most of these words happen to be negatively charged at the Steel Industries.

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“In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our despair, against our will comes wisdom through the awful grace of God”(24-30). RFK used this quote to say people may want to stay angry and bitter, but anger will eventually be replaced with wisdom and understanding no matter how much they try to fight it. Kennedy recognizes his audience as Americans, but especially

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Rhetorical analyst Omair Khan states that Kennedy “had an enormous level of credibility as well as the authority and experience that comes with being the president of the United States” which is true because as the president, he had a huge amount of good will and was to be believed to turn the circumstances around

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