...Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a famous activist who played a major role in the civil rights movement, is known for his infamous speeches and letters. “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, which defends King's strategy of nonviolence as well as responding to a letter that King received from the clergymen, who criticized King’s demonstrations, is no exception to this pattern in King’s work. Throughout King’s letter many rhetorical devices, such as rhetorical questions, metaphors, and anaphora, are used to shape and build his argument, as well as an abundance of ethical, logical, and emotional appeals. The use of rhetorical devices is a key factor that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used to help develop his letter. King is able to use rhetorical questions,...
Words: 849 - Pages: 4
...throughout America.It was dark for the victims of racism until Martin Luther King Jr. showed up to fight for racial equality. During his fight for racial equality he made several significant speeches including his most famous one “I Have a Dream”. That speech was his final one but yet the most important speech of all. Even though Martin Luther’s speech was 54 years ago, his meaning still stands today as a “new age” for America. In his speech he uses rhetorical devices, ethos, pathos, and logos to help add meaning to his speech, and he also gives a patriotic tone to highlight the importance of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”...
Words: 764 - Pages: 4
...Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, “Darkness can’t drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate can’t drive out hate; only love can do that.” These lines stated by King are very crucial as it was said in a time period where these words were weighed heavily. King is known as a social activist who led the Civil Rights Movement during the mid-1950s. He has made many speeches throughout the Movement in which he is best known because of them. During the Civil Right Movement the main goal of it was to end racial inequality. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary inequality means, “an unfair situation in which some people have more rights or better opportunities than other people.” Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” is the most compelling...
Words: 965 - Pages: 4
...Rhetorical Analysis – I Have a Dream. A speech, that will be remembered by many and be passed down from generation to generation, had shaped the future of America by the time Martin Luther King had stepped off the stage on August 28th, as he called for an end to racism in the United States during the March on Washington in 1963. This was one of, if not, the most powerful speech America has seen to this day. A beautiful way to begin! Good job! Martin Luther King stood on that stage with confidence and determination to make a change in the United States of America and it was shown through this rhetorical masterpiece titled “I Have a Dream”. The first line of the speech makes the audience aware of not only how serious he is, but also how determined and sure he is that his speech will change the civil rights in the United States of America; he could not have been more right about it. From the very first line, Martin Luther King had his audiences’ undivided attention. “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” (Line 1-2, Page 1) His audience in this case would not only be his fellow Negroes who are still not free, but the rest of the Americans that attended the March on Washington. Little did he know that the whole world would be his audience… Good! In this first line we see him start off with using logos. He refers to the USA as “our” nation. We see this throughout the...
Words: 995 - Pages: 4
...Versus Laws in The Eyes of King In the mid twentieth century, America was full of segregation and inequality between the blacks and whites. One man did everything in his power to get equal rights for the races until it eventually killed him, literally. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man who dedicated his entire life striving towards African American equality. Without using violence, King fought hard and strong for what he believed in, and was passionate about, which was civil disobedience, that is defined as a peaceful form of protest. Practicing civil disobedience addressing his demands for racial equality landed Martin Luther King, Jr. a spot in Birmingham Jail. The incarceration resulted in a large amount of free time which he used to complete a lengthy letter addressing the clergymen who criticized his actions, calling them untimely and unwise. These criticisms did not sit well with King and therefore, he formulated “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” Although long winded, Martin Luther King, Jr. uses repetition, in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” to his benefit, in addition with ethos and pathos to sway his audience and develop his reasons for his civil disobedience. Ending at an astounding eleven pages, Martin Luther King, Jr. covers a great amount of information throughout “Letter From Birmingham Jail”. The length of this letter most likely was due to the fact he was locked in a cell with nothing better to occupy himself with, King admitted himself, in the last...
Words: 1173 - Pages: 5
...I find it ironic how Patrick Henry speaks about being slaves to the british and standing up for colonist’s beliefs in the late 1700’s. However Martin Luther King Jr. writes in his letter about being free from the same americans who have locked him up for his own beliefs. As skilled orators who have shaped America, Patrick Henry and Martin Luther King Jr. use similar and different rhetorical devices to convey the message they would like to get across. Patrick Henry and Martin Luther King both use rhetorical strategies like, repetition to make their words and the meaning behind them more effective, yet Patrick Henry seems to use more of an abundance of rhetorical questions to enforce his ideas than MLK. Henry and King have used rhetorical strategies...
Words: 649 - Pages: 3
...Martin Luther king Jr. and Fredrick Douglass both use their own skills in their speeches to prove how their freedom is nothing without equality. In Kings ” I Have a Dream” and Douglass’ “Address to Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society” they both use rhetorical and literary devices to express their thoughts of freedom and equality. Martin Luther king Jr. wanted not only blacks freedom, but to have equal rights like the rest of American citizens. A rhetorical device found in King's speech is an anaphora to make the listeners emphasis and remember what is being said. Martin Luther king states,” I have a dream “ about 8 times to demonstrate to the audience to get it through there head what his dream is, to have the world in the future to come...
Words: 535 - Pages: 3
...Rhetorical Analysis of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech Martin Luther King Jr. was an American civil rights activist who boldly called an end to racism in the United States. On August 28, 1963 he delivered a speech in front of more than 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial; a speech that became famous for its inspiration; a speech that was a defining moment for the American Civil Rights Movement; a speech plainly known as “I Have a Dream.” This infamous speech was so influential and moving because of the many rhetorical devices and appeals used that effectively related to the emotions and knowledge of the common people. Techniques used so beautifully and words spoken so genuinely that the hearts of those listening...
Words: 1152 - Pages: 5
...In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, King uses various rhetorical devices in order to make his argument that much more effective against that of the white supremacists. It is clear to me that his most effective use of a rhetorical device would have to be one of the logos, or logical appeal, variety, in which he states, “If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day…” (Martin Luther King Jr. SpringBoard book 206). This, in which it is my firm belief, is a very effective quote because it seems to tie to more than one type of appeal. While it is clearly logical that King receives a surmountable pile of hatred, it is also plausible that he stated this as a form of pathos - as a way of appealing to the emotional values of the critics who were to read his...
Words: 458 - Pages: 2
...Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King’s Speech “I Have a Dream” Likita M. Taylor ITT-Tech English 1320: Composition I November 12 2012 Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King’s Speech “I Have a Dream” “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” These are the opening words of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech”, which he predicted will be the foundation of the Civil Rights Movement and the turning point in finally ending segregation. Time and time again, his speech is credited as being “one of the most successful and most legendary speeches in United States history.”(Martin, 2010, 10 par 1). He was an astonishing, intelligent speaker who often relied on using strong rhetoric devices to get his message across. Through his articulate use of logos, pathos, and ethos, King was able to persuade his generation that "the Negro is not free.” (Martin 2001 par3). His speech became the rallying cry for civil rights and lives on to this day as a perpetual masterpiece. Before one can really understand the analysis of his speech, it is important to understand King’s arguments. His main point is that blacks are not free or equal according to the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. He argues that African-Americans must claim their full rights and demand liberation from inequality and suppression. King's audience is not only Black Americans, but his message...
Words: 794 - Pages: 4
...Antigone vs Martin Luther King Jr in rhetoric Should we truly be punished for breaking laws that break moral code? According to Antigone and Martin Luther King Jr the answer appears to be no. They both defend their actions that break the rules yet favor different rhetorical devices. Throughout Antigone’s speech she seems to favor pathos to convey her reason to break a law. When explaining her actions she evokes the emotion in her audience by explaining what would have happened if she had follow the laws she would have allowed her “own mothers son to not”, then explains how it would “have been agony”, the perspective draws an emotional response that she hopes to use as empathy. When threatened death as a punishment she expresses that if she “is to die before her time” that she would “consider that a gain”. She again uses pathos to draw motion from the king by explaining that death would be worth her action. This adds a more dramatic moment which in turn causes more emotion. Unlike Antigone Martin Luther King Jr uses logic through logos to make his argument after being called an “extremist” he explains this is not always a bad thing....
Words: 440 - Pages: 2
...“Martin Luther King’s letter from Birmingham” was a letter written by Martin Luther King in a time and place that reveled in the prominence of segregation. Birmingham was a city in Georgia known for its inequities in its treatment of African Americans. Martin Luther King wrote the letter after being imprisoned for leading marches of the Equal Rights movement in Birmingham. The letter is a response to many of the dissenters and critics of King’s tactics, most notably his belief in the importance of non-violent protests and marches. His masterful use of rhetorical devices as well as his enthralling form of syntax and diction allows King to show the reader his full range of emotions and thoughts on the topic of Civil Rights for African Americans....
Words: 697 - Pages: 3
...Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech took place on the monumental steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was a warm August day in 1963 and the audience consisted of Americans anxious to hear the voice of the motivational Martin Luther King Jr. the overall purpose, how effective the speech was in his colossal audience, and his use of rhetorical devices, all contributed to creating one of America’s most commemorated speeches. The effectiveness of King’s speech undoubtedly relied on his incredible ability to relate to the audience, his diction, as well as how he used other documents in his speech to support his purpose. He related to the audience by using examples such as a faulty promissory note, and using songs that American’s...
Words: 364 - Pages: 2
...Who is more persuasive: A stranger or colleague? In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. claims that racial segregation is unfair. He supports this argument by establishing his authority then using rhetorical devices to manipulate the clergymen with effective imagery. Martin’s goal is to sway his fellow clergymen to view his actions as positive factors to society with the directive of bringing forth equality. He conjures multiple attitudes such as, doubt and sarcasm to the eight members of the clergy. King persuades his audience to back his argument using the rhetorical devices Ethos, Pathos and Logos. King’s first rhetorical device is ethos. He uses this authoritative approach to establish himself as a credible consultant. King first refers to his audience as “Fellow Clergymen”(King 203), in doing so relating himself as a speaker of their own making. Subsequently, he announces himself as the President of the “Southern Christian Leadership Conference”(King 204), to incite his authority furthermore. Finally, King says, “I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth” (King 203). He does this to establish his demeanor as one of respect. His respect establishes his ethos as a reverent spokesman; also his kindness begins to flood the letter with an emotional appeal as well. King continues by emphasizing his sentimental appeal. His usage of Pathos is intended to build an impassioned connection between the clergy...
Words: 662 - Pages: 3
...Martin Luther King Jr. speaks from the Birmingham Jail to the “new administration” about his nonviolent protests as a result of the violence towards blacks and to secure civil rights. King used the rhetorical devices ethos, logos and allusion to reach the clergymen. Martin Luther King Jr. uses ethos to influence his audience to trust him and believe that he knows what he’s talking about. King states “I am in Birmingham because there is injustice here ”pg.1 paragraph 3. In this quote King is telling the audience that he is in Birmingham for them, so he can stop the injustice. If he is there to stop injustice, then he is there for the people and their safety. That is how he uses ethos in this quote, it makes the people believe he...
Words: 390 - Pages: 2
