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MLK Rhetorical Analysis

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MLK uses the following rhetorical devices in his speech,

Repetitions: “I have a dream”, “Let freedom Ring”, “With this Faith…”

Allusion: “Dream rooted in the American dream”, “Faith”, “the constitution”.

Rule of three: “1OO year later; ‘the Negro are not free”’, “they still suffer from segregation and injustice”, and “poverty”.

Alliteration: “Sons of former slaves and sons of former slave-owners”

I think MLK’s careful choice of the words of his excellent speech had a great impact on the listeners. It was obvious that he stirred their hearts with hope of that awaited day when the dream would come to pass. His word selection affected so much his speech to the extent that I became one of the greatest speeches ever given.

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