Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King 's Speech

In a speech Rev. Martian Luther King Jr. gave to the Riverside Church in New York City, King conveyed his beliefs on the horrific atrocities currently present in the Vietnam War. King began by stating that no longer Vietnam was a oversea issues, "Vietnam [had to be brought] into the field of my moral vision". Likewise, King stated the issues at home such as the overwhelming majority of the nation's poor were fighting in the Vietnam War. In King's mindset, a nation that held it self on the acclaim that all men are created equal, was in fact not equal. King uses a variety of persuasive elements including, but not limited to: concrete examples and analysis, a robust tone, and powerful rhetoric. While King was only one voice out of many of those who were on both sides of the war, King still managed to change others views about politics through the usage of his persuasive elements. In all, King posses a natural eloquence that allows him to spread his message far and wide with the hopes that America will never forget the testatrices that took place at home and oversea during the Vietnam War.

In paragraphs 12-14 King uses a combination of rhetorical strategies to argue the urgency for changing current segregation laws. Kings selective use of imagery, parallel structure, and metaphors helps bring out the emotions of the eight clergymen, making them feel sympathy and understand Martin Luther King Jr.s point of view.

How does the speakers' rhetoric evoke a reaction from the audience, in the speeches? Political speeches use rhetorical devices to persuade the reader to engage in their speech. "I have a dream” by Martin Luther King Jr, ESPY award speech by Jimmy Valvano, JFK's inaugural address, the Gettysburg address by Abraham Lincoln, 2009 inaugural address by Barack Obama are examples of political speeches that contain rhetoric. Throughout the speeches asyndeton, procatalepsis, allusion, antithesis, ethos, pathos, logo, repetition and parallelism are used.

Within writing, authors have to find a way to hook and interest the reader in many ways. Many authors use rhetorical appeals when writing. Rhetorical appeals are logos, pathos, ethos, and kairos. These appeals help one to appeal to character, logic, emotion, time and more. When writing, the author has to consider the writer, the reader, the medium, and the text for the work in which they would like to create. When considering all of these concepts, the author is able to create a good persuasive writing. The author Joan Didion uses many rhetorical appeals such as, pathos, logos and ethos. Didion's main purpose for writing this passage is to persuade people

Martin Luther King Jr. built his speech around fighting unjust conditions placed on both African Americans and soldiers of the Vietnam war with non-violent protest. King is arguably the best speaker the world has seen, he knows how to get his audience passionate about the problems America faces while also informing them of what causes these problems.

In a period of time where few were willing to listen, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood proudly, gathered and held the attention of over 200,000 people. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was very effective and motivational for African Americans in 1963. Many factors affected Kings’ speech in a very positive manner; the great emotion behind the words, delivering the speech on the steps of the memorial of the President who defeated slavery. And not only was this message beautifully written for the hope of African Americans, but the underlying message for white people, revolution and peace. To stimulate emotion from both parties of his listeners, King used a selection of rhetorical devices such as allusions to historical

In literary texts, authors best evoke empathy in the audience by using appeals such as ethos, logos, and pathos. When a reader is given appeals they are able to better understand the world around them and how others outside of their own lives feel. Books and speeches such as To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Statement on the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. by Robert F. Kennedy are prime examples of authors evoking empathy from their readers.

For instance, in the speech “A House Divided,” the author argues that “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.” These words are based on the words of Jesus from the Bible (Mathew 12: 25). By doing this, the author establishes the credibility (ethos) of his speech since his words are based on a well-recognized work, the Bible. In addition to establishing his credibility, the author continues to use a logical voice (logos) in truth to convince his audience. For instance, he structures his speech logically and provides evidence such as the Nebraska Bill and Dred Scott decision to back his initial claim. For example, the author asserts, “Have we no tendency to the latter condition? …piece of machinery so to speak-- compounded of the Nebraska doctrine and the Dred Scott decision.” By providing this evidence, the author hopes to demonstrate to his audience the importance and magnitude of the coming choice of the US. By describing the Dred Scott decision, he paints an intense picture in the minds of his audience and makes his message clear. Additionally, by asking multiple rhetorical questions throughout his speech, he evokes the audience’s reflection on the prior events. Thirdly, the author appealed to the emotions so the audience (pathos) by metaphorically analyzing and describing the slaves as being the machinery of the southern parts of the US. Throughout his speech, the author appealed to the need for basic human rights. For example, he asserts, “He (Douglass) has done all in his power to reduce the whole question of slavery to one of a mere right of property. “Through the multiple appeals to the ethos, logos, and pathos throughout his letters and speeches, the author ensures the content of the book is fluid and easy to

Logos, pathos, and ethos have been utilized in writing from history to current day writing and literature. The three elements are called modes of persuasion that are used to convince the audience. We will be evaluating how Jackson used logos, pathos, and ethos to make his writing more convincing and appealing to his audience. To begin with, we will be examining logos used in writing.

Frederick Douglass, the author of his biography “Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass”, uses rhetoric in order to persuade his readers towards his ideas. Frederick Douglass uses Ethos in order to convince the author that he knows what he is talking about and how he himself is a credible source for the information he is delivering to thee reader. He uses Pathos to emotionally connect the reader to the text with relatability and through a manipulation of emotions. Lastly Frederick Douglass uses Logos in order to convince the reader and persuade them with factual information.

One of the most influential and famous Americans of all history announced this speech, most definitely allowing this address to be trustworthy nd truthful. Besides being a well know activist, Martin Luther King Jr. was reverend who has also had many written books. Consequently, allowing him to have had experience with writing and how to convey an idea among people. This is evident with his use of many literary element used. Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. was a renowned historical figure who without a doubt can be credited to be a trustworthy source of ideas.

The way the writer communicates is through their style. It appeals to the audiences emotions, it can make the message more artistic and memorable.

Rhetoric is the ancient art of dispute and discourse in which devices are used to manipulate language and efficiently convey the author’s message to the reader. In the “Public Statement by Eight Alabama Clergymen” and the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr., various strategies and styles are used to classify the speaker’s appeal to the audience. Pathos, ethos, and logos are effectively and ultimately achieved through the use of figurative language, allusion, and sentence structure.

We have all heard Martin Luther King’s famous speech, I have a Dream. His main goal was to convince everyone across the country to comprehend racial equality and to reinforce a solution for those individuals already engaged in the Civil Rights movement. You could say his speech was part of what made the movement successful. By him taking a stand, much attention was put into the problems that were going on. He was and still is viewed as an important leader who was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. Here we will basically dissect parts of his speech and define the points he was making and trying to make. Throughout the paper, you will see how Dr. King uses Ethos, Pathos, and Logos to show his audience and make them feel what went on.

Martin Luther King’s speech was made after the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. He delivered the “I Have a dream” speech on the Lincoln Memorial steps. He verbalized this speech to millions of people blacks and whites. This is one of the greatest speeches because it has many elements like repetition, assonance and consonance, pathos, logos, and ethos.