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The functions of rhetoric in daily life
Importance of rhetoric
Martin Luther King and his speech
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Additionally, King aimed to connect with the audience using rhetorical devices such as anaphora,repetition, and syntax. For instance, anaphora could be seen in paragraph 10 as King vividly repeats the phrase “when you have …”, attempting to show the audience that he’s had to endure a long list of grievances. Furthermore, repetition is visible in paragraph 9 as King continuously repeats the word “wait” seeking to intensify his message. Syntax is another rhetorical devices that King utilizes to get his message across. Notably within paragraph 10 as MLK states “Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say wait… then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.” MLK chose not to give the
In lines 144-145, King uses the quote “justice too long delayed is justice denied.”to explain how to “wait” means never and he knows that waiting would only delay the obtention of the rights that they have been fighting tirelessly for. King notes that those saying to “wait” have not dealt with the pain and struggles associated with segregation and racism. He uses pathos, which inflicts emotion upon the reader, to describe why the movement simply cannot “wait” any longer. He tells of how he needs to explain to his children why they are treated differently from the white children, how he sees innocent African Americans being lynched, and how places would not provide them service simply because they were not white. This use of pathos, or emotional appeal, exemplifies their need to take direct action and waste no time on
While repetition can often times be misused, King carefully crafted his writing with repetition to help the reader focus on the key idea. In paragraph nine, King uses the phrases “... we speedily decided to postpone action”, “we decided again to postpone action”, and “we endured postponement after postponement”. Throughout paragraph nine, the word postponed can be seen numerous times. The repetition of the word is intended to create a realistic feeling of postponement and unfulfillment to the reader. Also, in paragraph thirteen and fourteen, the repetition of the word “wait” is utilized to help the reader better understand the amount of time African Americans were denied their god-given rights. Again, King is seen using repetition to intensify his
MLK depicted gruesome imagery throughout his letter in order to force the white clergymen to feel the Negros pain. For instance, he mentions how Negros have tried many times to negotiate, and were left with ‘Broken promises, blasted hopes.’(King) Whites had always told the Negros to wait, that their segregation will end eventually. MLK describes the word ‘wait’ as it “rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity,” (King), “It’s easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say ‘wait’.”(King) MLK’s choice of poignant wording to describe the Negros pain and suffering is effectively what helps deliver those feelings onto the white clergymen. While gruesome imagery is placed throughout his letter, MLK also dedicates an entire section of his letter solely to gain their understanding. “When you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters with impunity; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro
This idea of “waiting” has been presented to them for years, yet change has not happened. Therefore, the need to fight for justice is a right that they have as American people. In his letter, specifically throughout paragraphs 13 and 14, King expresses his urgency through many different rhetorical devices such as metaphors, periodic sentences and anaphora. These rhetorical devices work together to create the powerful tone and structure of his letter. In other words, the period sentence is formed by anaphora, which is further strengthened by emotional metaphors. Essentially, Martin Luther King hoped to establish the necessity of fighting for freedom rights rather than waiting for no change to
King uses another periodic sentence when he says, “I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together. ”(King 273) In this sentence he does not hold off the meaning of the sentence until the very end like in the previous one, but he arranges the sentence in such a way that is very effective. He shows that experiencing these things that have happened to him, and the fellow members of his race, is the only way to understand the true cruelty. Another time King uses syntax is when he says, “It gives the segregator a false sense
When the play Oedipus The King is mentioned, what do you think of? I think of a very ignorant man that tries to escape his fate-- a man that had so much confidence in himself that he would put false accusations on people and defy his gods just because he thinks he is right. During the play, Oedipus realizes his own flaws while he investigates who the "true killer" of Laius is.
Martin Luther King Jr., sparks emotion amongst the readers, through the use of pathos in attempt to create an emotional feel. His diction and vivid language makes this appeal successful. He writes on his scratch paper given to him in jail “I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say "wait" (Longager & Walker, 2011, p. 270). The phrase “I guess” conveys the irony and absurdity of his claim. “Stinging darts” is also powerful, and truly makes the audience feel sorrow for those facing racial segregation. His strong diction is also depicted through anaphora. The repetition of phrases and words such as “when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mother,” “when you have seen hate filled policemen curse” and “see tears welling up in her eyes” provide the reader with a sense of sadness. By emphasizing “you,” he forces the reader to put themselves in the position that he is in, and experience it with him. Using anaphora creates a sense of memorability and urgency, all while remaining in the pathos category (Longager & Walker, 2011, p.256). Strategically used repetition not only forces the reader to focus on an idea, but also assists in conveying his intended message. The logos appeal is also in effect here. He utilizes the logos appeal to argue a non-violent protest is a wise decision. He details the daily life of an African American man, using words such as
Within these two passages, Teiresias is explaining to Oedipus that the Prophecy admitted he killed his father. Oedipus is denying the fact that he killed his father and looking passed the problem. In the play Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, Sophocles uses rhetorical devices to explain to the readers that Teiresias may be blind, but is seeing through the lie that Oedipus is living, while striking him the truth; this is explained through imagery, metaphors, an allusion, and ethos appeal.
In “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, Oedipus, the king of Thebes finds out that he kills his father and that his wife is his mother. Oedipus is very concerned for his kingdom and his people. He wants to “drive the corruption from the land” (Sophocles 109) by finding Laius’s murderer and killing him. Through his curiosity, Oedipus finds out that the man he kills long ago is Laius, who is his father, and that his wife is his mother—all in accordance with Oedipus’ prophecy. After coming on this realization as well, Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife, commits suicide, and Oedipus gouges out his eyes as a result of this. In his search for the murderer, Oedipus strives to be a fair king. Ironically, he often is not fair to the people he sees or things that are essential to him. This play demonstrates the theme of justice through Oedipus’ denial of justice in three situations—Oedipus’ meeting with Tiresias, Oedipus’ gouging out of his eyes, and Creon’s asking of Oedipus to adjudicate fairly
Sophocles, the author of “Oedipus the King” led individuals such as Freud to critically analyze this play specifically for its psychological content. Freud utilized this play to expand his dream analysis research as well as the inspiration of the infamous “Oedipus Complex.” Oedipus operates under freewill, yet his fate has been determined by the Gods although the end result may require a winding path of less than obvious events that occur to achieve the prophecy. The supporting roles in “Oedipus the King” truly exploit the protagonist, Oedipus, and his character flaws. All in all, Sophocles demonstrates the power of an individual’s psyche by illustrating the fears and dreams that are transformed into actions; such actions also lead to the rise and fall of the great Oedipus by the end of “Oedipus the King.”
This essay will illustrate the types of characters depicted in Sophocles’ tragic drama, Oedipus Rex, whether static or dynamic, flat or round, and whether protrayed through the showing or telling technique.
M. Tullius Cicero orator et C. Antonius est consules anno ab urbe condita sexcentesimo nonagesimo primo. Hoc erat baculus rei publicae Romanorum olim supra a perpetuum honore in Senatu, qui fecit statutos, statuit consules et iudicit cuncti cives. Consulatum datur impunitam e cunctis sceleris a aut ante honorem datum est aut cum honore. Consules mutatus est quotannis ut aliquis e agens ut tyrannis aut regis detineatur, sciens ante scelera ac interfectos cum primo septem regis Romanorum, quorum finum unus interfecus est et a Senatu ac curse honore reponitus.
Diction is fourth, and is “the expression of the meaning in words” which are proper and appropriate to the plot, characters, and end of the tragedy. In this category, Aristotle discusses the stylistic elements of tragedy; he is particularly interested in metaphors: “But the greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphor; . . . it is the mark of genius, for to make good metaphors implies an eye for resemblances” (context). Application to Oedipus the King.
Here is a story where Oedipus the King, who has accomplished great things in his life, discovers that the gods were only playing with him. He has everything a man of that time could want; he is king of Thebes, he has a wonderful wife and children, and great fame through out the lands. He has lived a good life, but in the end everything is taken from him.
When Oedipus arrives at colonus, he is immediately told to leave, but he stays because he must die on thy land in order for it to be blessed. When Oedipus arrives outside of Colonus, he is told to leave right away, but he refuses and convinces the chorus to let him stay until anything further is heard from the king. When the king comes out, and realized who Oedipus is, and what his body can do if he dies and is buried on their land, he lets him stay. When Oedipus learns of how his two sons are fighting for the throne, he becomes mad, and places a curse on them that they will kill each other. On Polynices arrival, “He tells of how his brother, Eteocles… turned against him… he plans to regain the throne by force” (Oedipus at Colonus 2). When