Premium Essay

Martin Luther King I Have A Dream Allusion

Submitted By
Words 312
Pages 2
Martin Luther King Jr. spoke his “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963 to show that all he wants is civil rights and equality for people. He supports his claim by using metaphor, anaphora, and allusion. King’s purpose is to persuade people for peaceful protests and to persuade the racist, white community that they are the same regardless of color of skin. King establishes a very passionate and unifying tone for his audience of not only black americans, but for politicians and the people who agree with racist views. Martin Luther King Jr. uses allusion many times throughout his speech to show comparison and credibility. For example King states, “Five score years ago,...” (Martin Luther King Jr.). He is using this allusion because of its

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Speech From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis

...civil rights movement activist Martin Luther King Jr gave a speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Not for the beautiful viewing but for the remembrance of the President who tried to end segregation. Dr. King spoke in front of hundreds of thousands of colored and white people from across the nation, informing them about the change against segregation. As a writer Dr. King knows how to grab his followers attention. Dr. King used allusions, pathos, parallel structure, alliteration, juxtaposition, and imagery to not only show the future when segregation ends but to grab people attention and open their ears to faith and change. Dr. King uses allusions to show credibility of past and how people...

Words: 716 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Martin Luther King Jr Allusion Essay

...“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 by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King Jr. lived in a time period where this was something African Americans actually had to dream about. Where their children were only judged on the color of their skin. Would we still be living in a nation like this, where whites were superior to blacks, if it weren’t for Martin Luther King Jr. and his strive for civil rights? Martin Luther King had very strong believes and he was willing to lose his life for a better future. His protests were nonviolent, and that goes to show that violence is never the answer, that he made a change by never harming anyone...

Words: 799 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Research Paper Mlk

...A Rhetorical Analysis of MLK Jr.’s “I have a dream” Speech Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one hundred years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which outstandingly furthered the civil rights movement. At that time, racial segregation, police brutality, and other forms of racial inequality were terribly prominent in America. The speech successfully focused the country’s attention at the need for racial equality “Now” (King, I Have a Dream). King gave the speech in order to motivate his followers to peacefully continue to demonstrate, protest, and boycott until they were fully granted the equality and privileges that any other citizen was allowed to have. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech is his most notable, and one of the most influential of Twentieth-Century-America because of his excellent rhetorical use of repetition and anaphora, contrasting metaphors, and appropriate quotations and allusions throughout the speech. Martin Luther King Jr. used a profuse amount of repetition and anaphora throughout his speech. A subtle form of repetition, the repetition of singular words, was mainly used to emphasize key themes in the speech and keep them in the minds of the audience. Such repeated key themes were “freedom”, “justice” and “injustice”, “America” and “American”, and plural nouns such as “we” and “our”. Since the preceding words were repeated so frequently...

Words: 847 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Letter From Birmingham Jail Allusion

...style. In the case of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream”, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s prominent style creates a platform for the development of the context of his opinions. A stylistic device King uses in both essays in order to convey his message is the allusion. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, King references the Boston tea party, destruction that was then deemed gallant by the American public. King references this occurrence from the past to clarify that when he was arrested he was in fact doing the ethical thing, but it just happened to be illegal. Doing the moral thing, in Kings opinion, and doing the legal thing do not constantly have to correlate. This allusion also showcases that civil disobedience is not...

Words: 747 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech

...segregation is won, but the community battle goes on.”(Dorothy Day) “I have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr. is the most compelling speech. He used figurative language to help support his dream that all men will be able to be given the same treatment. Blacks won’t be satisfied until they are free. Martin Luther King Jr. uses imagery and diction to get to this point. This speech impacts all of American’s lives”...unspeakable horrors of police brutality…” (King, p2). This is diction because he uses words like unspeakable to explain that no one has any words to say about what the whites are doing and why they are doing it. “Negro in Mississippi cannot vote…”(King, p2). This is an example of imagery because it gives an example of where(Mississippi) and what(Blacks...

Words: 522 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

I Have A Dream Ethos Pathos Logos

...“I Have a Dream” The 1960’s was a time of darkness for the black race, racial inequality, racism, and segregation was common 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

Premium Essay

Mlk Speech

...Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the most memorable and most powerful speeches in History. The speech was titled “I Have a Dream”, and was recited in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963. No one could have imagined that forty-eight years later, we as Americans would be referring back to this speech as an important breakthrough in History. Martin Luther King Jr. uses anaphora and allusions to help portray his idea of racial equality for everyone, and a better future for America. Martin Luther King Jr. used the rhetoric device called anaphora to emphasize his theme of equality. There are several examples in this speech that we could use as examples. One example is the line or phrase, “And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let Freedom ring from the mighty mountain of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania” (324). King emphasized the words “let freedom ring” over and over again because he wants us to remember that certain phrase. He used these words to state that freedom should be from coast to coast for every person, and not just found in some states. He says “let freedom ring” and uses different geographic areas that are spread apart throughout the United States. King exclaims that freedom should be everywhere in the United States of America, and is an essential part of a better future for America. King wanted everyone to be treated equal, no matter what race you were or how...

Words: 679 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

I Have A Dream Speech Rhetorical Essay

...masterpiece of political rhetoric. In Dr. King's I have Dream Speech the use of rhetorical strategies is seen throughout his speech with metaphors, Allusions and anaphora being most useful in getting his whole point around. With these rhetorical strategies Martin Luther king Jr. uses anaphora to emphasis through repetition makes these phrases more memorable, and, by extension, makes’ King’s story more memorable. Another rhetorical strategy he uses is allusion from the great Gettysburg’s address to show the equivalent worth of both cultures. The last major rhetorical strategy martin Luther king Jr. uses is metaphors, which he uses to this strategy to make point in his speech. Dr. king uses anaphora throughout his speech to gain momentum with each line to erupt in cheers after a few repetitions. For instance dr. king uses the phrases” one hundred years later, the negro is still not free” throughout his speech. Dr. King uses thus phrases...

Words: 475 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Mlk Rhetorical Devices

...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

Premium Essay

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

...Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. changed the lives of African Americans. King delivered a memorable speech called “I Have a Dream”. A speech about the Civil Rights Movement, and made America think more about what the Declaration of Independence establishes of what America should strictly follow, which is “All men are created equal” no matter what skin color ,nationality, and ethnicity. King dreamt about civil rights his whole life, now everyone in the United States is created equal not just men. The audience that this speech targeted was the United States, so they could realize how harsh America has gotten. White people during this time period should be ashamed of themselves of treating innocent people the way they did, only because of the distinct skin color. King encouraged America, and the world to make a change about being divergent. “I Have a Dream” speech changed the face of America forever....

Words: 655 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Juxtaposition In Letter From Birmingham Jail

...Martin Luther King was arguably the most influential African American in the Civil Rights Movement. His famous works include his Letter from Birmingham Jail, and possibly the most important speech in the 20th century, his “I Have a Dream” speech, In August 1963. The purpose for his historic speech would be to call whites and blacks together to make peace and equality for all. King uses language techniques like repetition, juxtapositions, and allusion to lay forward his plan for justice. King uses repetition to emphasize the purpose for his speech, while also bringing many paragraphs to life. His third paragraph discusses the time that has passed since the emancipation proclamation, and still, rights of the African-American are still not equal to those of the whites. It reads “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred...

Words: 710 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

...“I have a dream” spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. was verbalized in 1963 on August 28. It was a national turning point for America. In his speech, he uses many literary expressions to portray his beliefs such as Metaphors and Allusions. These are heavily used to depict his ideas about the injustices of African American people and where these injustices thrive. Martin Luther King was an activist for civil rights. He, along with many, wanted to bring to light the terrible injustices that belong to an African American. He uses many metaphors to paint a vivid picture of the world as he saw it. In his speech he declared, “This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.” He uses this metaphor to compare the time a segregation to a excruciating summer. He expresses that people will not rest until they are all considered equal. This time would be joyous just like the autumn, out of the heat and suffering. Later in the speech, Dr. King also states,”The...

Words: 639 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Declaration Of Independence

... and Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech compare and contrast? Any half-sensible American should at least be able to tell you that they are all crucial pieces of America’s development as a nation, and that they all had different authors and intents. To compare and contrast them effectively, each piece’s purpose, the effect of the document/speech, and the author’s writing style must be analyzed. Each document was written under vastly differing circumstances. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was constructed by our Founding Fathers to combat the oppressive power of King George and separate ties with Britain. In 1863 the Gettysburg Address was given by President...

Words: 653 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

I Have a Dream

...------------------------------------------------- I Have a Dream From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the Martin Luther King Jr. speech. For other uses, see I Have a Dream (disambiguation). Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering "I Have a Dream" at the 1963 Washington D.C. Civil Rights March. | "I Have a Dream"30-second sample from "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. | Problems listening to this file? See media help. | "I Have a Dream" is a public speech by American activist Martin Luther King, Jr.. It was delivered by King on August 28, 1963, in which he called for an end to racism in the United States. Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the speech was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.[1] Beginning with a reference to the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed millions of slaves in 1863,[2] King examines that: "one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free".[3] At the end of the speech, King departed from his prepared text for a partly improvised peroration on the theme of "I have a dream", possibly prompted by Mahalia Jackson's cry: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!"[4] In this part of the speech, which most excited the listeners and has now become the most famous, King described his dreams of freedom and equality arising from a land of slavery and hatred.[5] The speech was ranked the top American speech...

Words: 2912 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Passion For The Civil Rights Movement

...Dr. Martin Luther King was an African American civil rights leader who was responsible for pushing for equal rights and equal justice. King wrote and presented many great speeches on the plight of the poor and disenfranchised black Americans. His speeches influenced many young and old black and white citizens across the United States to band together to change the segregation laws across the South. His oratory style of speaking blended southern black preaching with the truth and the writings of our founding fathers that led to the changing of millions of Americans minds. To this day Dr. King is considered to be one of history’s greatest and most influential speakers. Dr. King was invited to speak at events unaffiliated with his passion for the Civil Rights Movement, my essay compares and contrast what many consider his greatest speech entitled “I Have A Dream” with “On the Importance of Jazz”. August of 1963, Dr. King gave a speech called “I Have A Dream”, which was very powerful and influential. King claims, “now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children." (King). However, King hopes to keep equality through this nonviolent movement. He orders his fellow Negros to not have...

Words: 1138 - Pages: 5