Analysis Of De Inventione By Martin Luther King

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Throughout the course of world history, humans have constantly borrowed and edited past works of art, music, and many other topics to enhance the present. One of the more prominent subjects that has uprooted from the past is literature, specifically originating from the language of Latin. There is an abundant of different writing styles that have carried from the ancient poets and orators of Rome to the public speakers in the modern world. Cicero, a leading figure in Roman courts, has proven himself to be an extremely persuasive speaker from his wondrous orations. Comparably, Martin Luther King Jr. has given impressive speeches to persuade his idea of anti-discrimination through an image of a free country. Even though there is a major …show more content…

The Latin term “inventio” simply translates to invention. However, this invention is defined as the brainstorming of topics that will be used in future orations (Yonge). Most of these topics depend on the desires of the present audience and what is happening in history. In MLK’s case, the Civil Rights Movement sparked his invention of “I Have a Dream” and many other speeches. In addition, he had to appeal to his fellow activists and fight for what he was truly fighting for: freedom. With all of this in mind, MLK created and performed his speech with the benefit of Cicero’s past work by being an influence towards this great …show more content…

has a reputation to be one of the most important public speakers in the United States. He has been a citizen, a leader, a speaker, and will go down in history. Even though Cicero was a prominent orator and lawyer in the Roman society, he never influenced a country’s lifestyle. However, Cicero is also a part of human history as one of the ancient Latin writers who triggered the art of oration. “De Inventione,” a literary work of a genius, is credible for providing the necessary steps to bring about genuine rhetoric. This knowledge has been passed on and salvaged for modern society to educate themselves. MLK, for example, has shown all the aspects Cicero described in his treatise on persuasive speaking, including the use of rhetorical devices, eloquent style, and powerful

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