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Literary devices in mlk speech
Literary devices in mlk speech
Allusions in mlk speech
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Literary devices in mlk speech
Literary devices in mlk speech
Allusions in mlk speech
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Throughout the text, King presents an incredibly valid argument. He addressed the questions and concerns of the clergy, shutting the validity of their “concerns” down. It seemed like he always knew what his audience would be asking. One example of this is how he goes into why he believes it is morally justifiable to peacefully and willingly disobey the law. Dr. King knew his audience and understood how to most effectively convey his message to that audience.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister who became well known through his involvement and leadership in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and the 1960s. On April 12, 1963, eight clergymen from Alabama issued and signed a statement that included subtle accusations of hatred and violence by civil rights supporters and activists. Criticisms such as demonstrations being “unwise and untimely”(King 1), were made and directed towards Martin Luther King Jr.’s actions although he was a pacifist and valued peace. In response to the criticisms, King composed one of the most significant documents in American history which was an extensive letter addressed to the clergymen while he was spending time in a jail cell at the Birmingham
The energy that Dr. King delivered his speech was fascinating because he successfully used anaphora in his speech. He repeatedly used the same phrases at the beginning of sentences. For example, the phases such as “One hundred years later”, “Now is the time…”, “We must…”, “We can never be satisfied…”, “Go back to… were repeated several times during his speech. This really delivered his message by making the audience interested in following his words. Even when ending his speech, he did not forget to repeat the phrase “I have a dream”.
Martin Luther King’s Fight for Equality During the course of the U.S’ history, race inequality has always been a problem that concerns different people among the society. There have been many attempts to end segregation in southern states, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as one of the most important Civil Rights’ activist. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist Minister and a non-violent activist that was born in Atlanta, GA in 1929. During his lifetime, he aimed to promote desegregation in southern states, and fight for equality over African Americans.
Through out paragraph 27 to 31, Martin Luther King Jr. depicted numerous rhetorical strategies, in which all are effective in providing warrants to his claims and rebuttals against the Clergymen. One of his main logical fallacies in paragraph 27, his usage of logos is evident. This was represented through his two claims of two opposing forces in Birmingham, Alabama. He described “One is a force of complacency, made up in part of Negroes who…become insensitive to the problems of the masses” (King 27). So it means with the ignorance of the “White” population, African Americans have grown use to their predicament, and chose a path of indifference, or psychologically a path that does not lead them to any more “racial obstacles”.
“I have a dream today!” Was once said by Martin Luther King Jr. In my opinion while some might not say I say Martin Luther King Jr is effective in his speech because his use of analogies, parallelism, and his restatement to persuade his audience. Firstly, Martin Luther King Jr is persuasive with his analogies.
Certainly well as motivating message was one very clear and accurate. It can be confirmed through the reaction of the people, where he managed to capture thousands of followers who believed and still believe in its principles. King Jr. showed with action and example his position, which generated respect for the listener. For example, we can see in the video the constant attention of listeners to the message, the quorum, and the ovation approving and accepting to his call. And myself evaluating Martin Luther King Jr. as a speaker from 1 to 10, will certainly apply the highest score.
He became a leader for African Americans in America but he also was on his way to becoming a world figure who would never be forgotten. In his speech Martin Luther King Jr stated, “The negro still is not free”. “Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children”. He believed that God made all of his children equal and that the power of God stood strong and his religious faith is one of the reasons that he stood up for what he believed in. He knew that one day God would be able to make everyone equal, Martin Luther King Jr. stood as a man of the future.
Martin Luther King has changed America tremendously, wouldn’t you agree? King has made very powerful writings but the two main speeches are “I Have a Dream” and “Letter From Birmingham Jail”. There is many of the three rhetorical appeals which are Pathos, Logos, and Ethos. There was one simple thing in both species, King wanted freedom but unfortunately he did not get that. He tried really hard because segregation got way out of control.
Martin Luther King repeats himself throughout the whole speech but he does it in a way to where he uses it in a different context. He may use different words along with using it in different ways. Some examples are when he repeats “One hundred years later” about two to three times in one paragraph and “Now is the time” about three to four times in another paragraph. Through continuous repetition throughout the speech, King tries to stress his point to the audience. Another example is when asked when Negros will be satisfied, King reply’s with “We will not be satisfied” many times throughout the speech.
On April 12, 1963 the Alabamian clergymen sent out a public letter discussing the violations that Martin Luther King Jr. was causing in Birmingham. Once King saw the letter , in jail after being imprisoned for peaceful marching in the civil rights movement, he responded explaining that the clergy weren’t doing anything to help out the African American racial injustices. Martin Luther King not only responded to the Alabamian clergymen’s criticism in his letter, he also addressed the local African American community in order to successfully convince them that they need to continue fighting for their equal rights. Martin Luther King strategically uses biblical allusions, knowing that his immediate audience is the clergy, and the reference to
I feel like one of the reasons that Dr. King can relate to his audience is because he's black. By that, I mean that Dr. King has gone through the same thing that other black people have gone through. His exposure to racism really helps him say the perfect choice of words to grab the audience's attention. I feel this is what made his speech so memorable in the first place. People at home were watching probably the first African American man they've ever seen publicly take a stand to racism on the nation-wide news.
Martin Luther King Jr. effectively crafted his counter-argument by first directly addressing his audience, the clergymen, and then using pathos, ethos, and logos to refute his opponent’s statements and present his own perspective. After stating the general purpose of his letter, King specifically addressed the clergymen to set up for his logical counterargument. King effectively makes use of pathos, or to appeal to the emotions of his audiences, throughout his letter. when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son who is asking: “Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean? ”
On April 4, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy gave his remarks on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Robert’s goal was to inform people on Martin Luther King’s journey and to strengthen people’s attitudes on the whole situation. Robert’s main points throughout the speech were how the country as a whole should move forward, why the states should not resort to violence but unity instead, and he also addressed that the country needed unity, love, and compassion.
Why is a speech given? The main purpose of a speech is to employ an audience with a main idea or proposal. The act of engaging an audience is crucial. A speech is a relationship between the person giving the speech and the audience he is speaking to. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech during a time where racial segregation was very popular.