Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream

554 Words2 Pages

On August 28, 1963, the incredible Martin Luther King Jr. gave his influential speech titled “I have a Dream.” This speech was one of the biggest pivot points of the Civil Rights movement, and solved one of the biggest problems for Negro people at that period in time; racism. One of the strongest techniques used in this speech is metaphors with imagery, such as when he stated “flames of withering injustice” and “beacon light of hope,”which evokes an emotional response because of intense imagery used in the quotes, allowing King to influence his listeners to a greater extent. When King states he is standing under a “symbolic shadow” of the “great American” Abraham Lincoln; the memorial in which King rehearsed his speech, he alludes to Lincoln’s most important accomplishment: the “Emancipation Proclamation” - the act abolishing slavery. This led to the Lincoln Memorial’s shadow being symbolic, because he fought for the rights of a large group of people, similar to how King was fighting for Negro rights. However, the shadow was not only something literal, it was also figurative. The shadow acts as a metaphor with imagery, because it is referring to how Lincoln’s hopes for equality and peace, is spread across to all people like a ginormous shadow of …show more content…

In so doing so, King creates the feeling of sweat and exhaustion; the same feeling of injustice and oppression. However, by pairing this idea of heat with a line about transforming it into “an oasis of freedom and justice,” King brings up the idea of transforming this “heat” into a much nicer, and relaxing place for all, where everyone can take a drink from the water of freedom. By simulating this intense idea, his listeners get put into the shoes of the Negro people, allowing King to push the listener's thoughts towards equality and freedom for all in this racist

Show More
Related

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the 1960s inequality was a major problem in the United States. One advocate for making things right was Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King organized many marches, sit-ins, and boycotting events. But one of Dr. King’s greatest and memorable works has to be the “I Have a Dream” speech. During this speech Dr. King was conveying a message of freedom for all, to 250,000 civil right followers and many more people listening to the radio broadcast. To spread his message Dr. King uses rhetorical appeals like logos to appeal to the reason of his audience, ethos by his examples of practicing what he preached, and his metaphorical language and repetition.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream Speech” very powerfully on August 28, 1963, which would therefore change the lives of African Americans for the better, forever. King delivered the most heart touching speech America has ever heard, and it would change everyone 's lives forever. King uses various ways including ethos and pathos to support this.

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail Analysis

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    King’s critics wrote that he was “unwise and untimely” in his pursuit of direct action and that he ought to have ‘waited’ for change, King explains that “This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never’”. This short statement hits home especially when followed up with a lengthy paragraph detailing injustices done towards African Americans, including lynching and drowning. In his descriptions King uses familial terms such as ‘mother’ and ‘father’, which are words that typically elicit an emotional response from an audience, to picture ones family in such terrible situations would surely drive home the idea that the African American community cannot ‘wait’ anymore for a freedom that will probably never be given to them

    Read More

  • I Have A Dream Speech Rhetorical Analysis

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr., uses pathos to make his speech appeal emotionally to his audience. He uses painful imagery such as, “One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” (King). By metaphorically linking slavery with segregation, King hopes to show that though the physical “manacles” are no longer present, the emotional and social bondage is still very real and very painful for an entire segment of America’s population. Dr. King knew that it was important for his listeners not only to sympathize, but also to empathize with the African American people. As a father himself King knew that it is more difficult to harbor ill will towards a child, so perhaps that is why he includes, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis: of I Have a Dream

    1479 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech, King makes use of an innumerable amount of rhetorical devices that augment the overall understanding and flow of the speech. King makes the audience feel an immense amount of emotion due to the outstanding use of pathos in his speech. King also generates a vast use of rhetorical devices including allusion, anaphora, and antithesis. The way that King conducted his speech adds to the comprehension and gives the effect that he wants to rise above the injustices of racism and segregation that so many people are subjected to on a daily basis.

    Read More

  • Pathos In I Have A Dream Speech

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    On August 28th, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous and powerful speech I Have a Dream, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The purpose of his speech was to fight for the civil rights, equality, and to stop the discrimination against African-American people. His use of imagery, repetition, and metaphor in his speech had created an impact with his audience. King used the three rhetorical devices, ethos, pathos and logos to help the audience understand the message of his speech.

    Read More

  • I Have A Dream Ethos Pathos Logos

    624 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most important voices of America, who used non-violent methods to fight for freedom and equality for all in his nation. On August 28th, 1969, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., King delivered his most iconic speech “I Have a Dream.” In this speech, repetition, ethos, pathos, and logos are used to persuade the audience about the importance of the Civil Rights Movement. To create the greatest demonstration for freedom, he used these literary devices to “dramatize a shameful condition” (“I Have a Dream”). Although his life was taken away, his legacy continues to live on today.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of "I Have A Dream" Speech By Martin Luther King Jr.

    814 Words  | 2 Pages

    From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial more than two score years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King electrified America with his momentous "I Have a Dream" speech. Aimed at the entire nation, King’s main purpose in this speech was to convince his audience to demand racial justice towards the mistreated African Americans and to stand up together for the rights afforded to all under the Constitution. To further convey this purpose more effectively, King cleverly makes use of the rhetorical devices — ethos, pathos and logos — using figurative language such as metaphors and repetition as well as various other techniques e.g. organization, parallel construction and choice of title.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

    846 Words  | 2 Pages

    "I Have A Dream" is a mesmerizing speech by Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. It was delivered to the thousands of Americans on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington. Aimed at the entire nation, King’s main purpose in this speech was to convince his audience to demand racial justice towards the mistreated African Americans and to stand up together for the rights afforded to African Americans under the Constitution. To further convey this purpose more effectively, King cleverly makes use of the rhetorical devices — ethos, pathos and logos — using figurative language such as metaphors and repetition as well as various other techniques e.g. organization, parallel construction, and choice of title.

    Read More

  • What Is Malcolm X's Prospects For Freedom?

    1377 Words  | 3 Pages

    King says, “But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.” (King, page 2) The African American leader goes on to describe, “...conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.” (King, page 2) His message from these quotes are amplified with imagery and metaphors, illustrating the African American’s position with deft strokes of the 5 senses, such as the phrases “warm threshold” and “high plane;” also, it compares justice to a palace. The imagery aids peace into looking like the much, much more better option because the diction and metaphors used to describe this situation makes equality seem like a fairy tale and “dignity and discipline” seem like kings and queen, miles above their royal subjects. It also helps the audience have a better understanding of the importance of using peace and why violence mustn't be an option. This is again illustrated with imagery and a metaphor, “...not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” (King, page 2) In the speech, King wanted inequality evaporated, with no reminisce of it behind and without hate. When he he uses imagery and metaphors in this main idea, it assists his

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imagine a you are writing a speech that could very well change the way life is. If you knew that you would be speaking to hundreds and thousands of people on racial equality, what would you say? How would you start that speech? How would you write that speech so that everyone can understand it and learn from it and get inspired from it? How would you know what to say and how to say it?

    Read More

  • A Summary Of The Autobiography Of Martin Luther King

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    On the day of his “I Have a Dream” speech, King stood upon the steps of the Lincoln Memorial located in the heart of our nation’s capital. This location was essential to King’s success because it was a symbol of our nation’s historic efforts to abolish the enslavement of African-Americans; an act which was made possible due to the valiant efforts of Abraham Lincoln. As the preponderance of the speech began, King made reference to the former president in what Peter Paris said was a “Declaration proclaimed to America on behalf of all African people”. King stated, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice” (I Have a Dream 2). Through these words, he was able to mimic the tone and style of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address while also evoking remembrance of the nation’s harsh past. The signing of one such bill, the Emancipation Proclamation, was the first time in history that African-Americans were able to progress in the social order. King tied this into his argument by introducing the concept that other laws could be enacted in order to allow the African-American population to continue

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream

    1148 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pierre Berton once said, “Racism is a refuge for the ignorant. It seeks to divide and to destroy. It is the enemy of freedom, and deserves to be met head-on and stamped out.” Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech “I Have a Dream” portrayed his optimism and hope for the American government to realize it’s wrong doings. He dreamed of racial equality and opposed the idea of segregation.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

    241 Words  | 1 Pages

    Finally, I think the purpose of speech is to persuade and impress the audience. Their tone shifts throughout the whole speech in order to convince the audience too. In “I have a dream” speech, Martin Luther King has repeatedly stressed, express strong emotions, making passionate speeches. The second paragraph mentioned about "One hundred years later," and the earlier "One hundred years ago," produced a clear contrast, and he also repeatedly stressed tone just in order to stressed that "Emancipation Proclamation" signed by a hundred years later, the Negro human rights situation did not improve. Moreover, the most impressed part in President John F. Kennedy speech is he said “to convert our good words into good deeds...to assist free men and

    Read More

  • What Was The Purpose Of I Have A Dream Speech

    745 Words  | 2 Pages

    But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free”. Which shows how even though the Emancipation Proclamation freed the African Americans from slavery, they still are not free because of segregation. He then transitions to the injustice and suffering that the African Americans face. He makes this argument when he proclaims, “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream”.

    Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream

Open Document