...Literary Techniques of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech Literary Techniques of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech Introduction Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent civil rights leader, delivered a powerful speech at the historic March on Washington. The speech uses several literary techniques to engage the listener. In the speech, King especially likes to use repetition and metaphor to convey his ideas. These devices are the foundation of King?s unique and effective style. Repetition In I Have a Dream King uses repetition throughout. Repetition is a good tool to use to reinforce an important idea. In Dorothy Seyler?s Read, Reason, Write, she states: ?Some repetition of key words and phrases will occur in well-written and unified essays. Some writers, though, go beyond this technique of unified writing and use repetition to produce an effective cadence, like a drum beating in the background, keeping time with the speaker?s fist pounding the lectern for emphasis.? (58). King?s speech is a perfect representation of this. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons...
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...Effective (adjective) : Adequate to accomplish a purpose. In analyzing Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter To Birmingham Jail and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry god by Jonathan Edwards,the task at hand was to analyze their techniques they used in order to see how the author is able to efficitvely send their messege to the readers.It was also to then determine who was more effective.To most readers,their effect of allusion towards the bible and complex sentences work more effectively on the audience of Letter to Birmingham,causing the readers to not only feel guilty,but also overwhelmed. Jonathan Edwards was a man of god.Growing up, he was the son of the pasture and he spent his days reading the bible.His belief was pure puritanical.Jonathan...
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...justice” a quote from Martin Luther King.Who would have known On April 14, 1968 Texas the biggest civil right leader Martin Luther King Jr was assasinated in a hotel stairwell. Martin Luther King Jr. assasination was injust because he was a well educated civil rights leader and he was a non violent man who led a peaceful movement. But some people thought that all he was doing was starting a controversy. Martin Luther King Jr was a strong and well educated civil rights leader who was commited to ending segregation and equality. In the article by Asselinn KC the article states “ Martin Luther King Jr was well educated. He attended Boston Univercity and Morehouse college and graduated with a bachulars degree. Martin Lutherused his wits and smarts to over come tough challanges (Asselinn 2) From reading the quote you can tell that Martin was very smart and used his brain when dealing with rascist people who did not agree with Martin Luther king Jr and the violent police and the state goverment. Martin...
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...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...
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...Martin Luther King, Jr said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Civil disobedience is part of our culture. People stand up for themselves when laws, rules, or just when things are unfair and unjust. Martin Luther King, Jr is a prime example of civil disobedience. In his “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” he describes his own thoughts on civil disobedience through real life experiences. David Thoreau is also a main figure in civil disobedience from his letter, “Civil Disobedience.” He talks about what he did to stand up for what he felt was right. There is a couple of reasons to believe in civil disobedience , one it can bring attention to main topics and also create real change in society. Civil disobedience is only...
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...The actions of what a person does determines whether or not they are a leader. Martin Luther King Jr. was an excellent impactful leader during the civil rights movement. Odysseus is a Greek hero who also leads as discussed in The Odyssey. However, in The Odyssey, Homer has Odysseus leading people into disaster with his selfishness. While Odysseus and Martin Luther King Jr possess similar leadership skills to lead people, Martin Luther King Jr was an iconic civil rights leader because he proclaimed his thoughts with peace and loyalty, rather than letting his hubris side affect him like Odysseus did when he was on his journey. Odysseus had power from being the king of Ithaca and the ability to lead a large group to follow him, Martin Luther King Jr also had capability to lead people to change and turn their way of thinking. In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men were trapped with the...
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...Vaughn English 102-01 14 September 2009 Someone Else’s Shoes Martin Luther King’s (MLK) “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” was written in 1963 as a response to the Eight Alabama Clergymen’s public statement against King’s actions in April of that year. Martin Luther King Jr. was an activist for desegregation of the south in the early 1960s and overcame much adversity to attain incredible gains on the segregation issue in the United States. King uses effective persuasive appeals of logical evidence, emotional appeal, and author credibility to win over his audience in “The Letter from Birmingham Jail.” MLK’s writing shows the effects of segregation in Birmingham with clear direct language and heart wrenching examples. Imagine being put in his position. If your family and friends were being treated cruelly and unjustly would you not help them in any way possible, especially if included in the mistreated group? After reading MLK’s letter, maybe you would see things in a different way with his convincing examples of logical and emotional appeal. Martin Luther King proves his credibility by several factors. The first way King proves he is a credible author is the fact that he is in the Birmingham jail. He is arrested while protesting in the city. The reader can believe that MLK is writing about something that he is well versed in because he shows that he has experienced it firsthand. Another way that Martin Luther King shows he’s plausible is by stating “I have the honor of serving...
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...There has been many prominent figures in the American Civil Rights Movement. Some prominent figures include Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. They both have their own viewpoints of social justice and how to achieve their goal. Martin Luther King, Jr. is more on the nonviolent side, while Malcolm X supports the use of violent if necessary. Malcolm X’s method of achieving social justice is more dominant than Martin Luther King, Jr.’s because Malcolm X’s method teaches people to use their available resources, to fight for what they believe in, and lastly use violence if it is necessary. Malcolm X’s method of achieving social justice teaches people to use available resources. He believes that people should do whatever they could to achieve what they want. Malcolm X indicates the term revolution meaning “a complete overturn-a complete change” (X). He is often called a revolutionist and agrees with the term because he wants change in the society. Malcolm X wants people to destroy the old system and replace it with a new system by all means. He says that “the Negro’s so-called “revolt” is merely an asking to be accepted into the existing system!” (X). Malcolm X, for the most part, is aiming for justice and equality just...
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...hate, Negroes deserve the same treatment as Whites. ** I agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s thesis statement and his supporting ideas. Summary: In his speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivers a powerful message on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. I have a dream is a speech in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. cultivates the powerful force of peace in people to act out in love towards racism. He is trying to reach the good in people and believes that love will be more effective than hate. TS: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. effectively conveys his message of equality and non-violence by making an emotional appeal to Americans. EM: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s speech brought change to America, Americans were unified, and caused people to view others differently. I. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s speech brought change to America. A. People were moved by his emotions. B. It inspired equality in Americans. C. America yielded to peace. II. Americans were unified. B. Racism was reduced. C. Peace prevailed over violence. III. Caused people to view others differently. A. People changed their perspective. B. Race became less significant C. Humanity was changed by love. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Speech I have a dream I have a dream speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is recognized as one of the greatest speeches ever presented. Over 50 years ago, in August of 1963, Dr. King captivated America with his significant I have a dream speech powerfully...
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...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...
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...Martin & Malcolm & America In this paper, there will be a primary focus on two of the most prominent leaders during the civil rights era. These two leaders are Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. The paper will discuss how these extraordinary men made their phenomenal contributions to America by offering to bring about their own political, racial, and social views that were affecting the people of color. Their ability to voice their strong opinions about the injustices that were taking place among African Americans and the oppositions that were before them gave them the durability to prolong the fight for freedom and justice. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were both men of purpose, dignity, and pride. The ongoing effort they gave for the people and to the people helped them to earn the respect that has followed them for decades. For that reason, this paper will reflect the ways in which both men contributed to the African American culture and the shaping of America in an effort to bring about a change that was needed to move forward. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X had different political philosophies; however, they both went about using different methods to campaign for civil rights. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a champion of non-violent protests and peace marches. His speeches entranced both blacks and whites into action for the civil rights movement. MLK knew that if the blacks worked for peace, peacefully, then equality was inevitable. “What they...
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...Christian St. Germaine Mr. Gomez American Literature 15 April 2015 The Great Racial Debate; and Differences of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. for Racial Equality America in the 1960s was marked by an era of unfortunate segregation, violence and unrest towards African Americans in the country. They faced often-brutal violence and a government that had forgotten them in regards to human rights. Blacks needed something to be done about the harm and inequality they were facing at the time. Fortunately, two men in particular rose to the occasion to fight for what they believed in. They focused on achieving the same goal of a better society for Blacks. However, they differed greatly in regards to how they sought to complete this goal. While Malcolm X often viewed the problem as a war and wanted to ensure that his people would have the means and the power to fight back against the harmful Whites. Martin Luther King Jr. believed it would be more beneficial to both parties if the violence ceased to exist. The struggle for racial equality caused Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. to seek separate and contradictory methods of achieving what they felt was right for African Americans. One main difference between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. was their distinctive childhoods. The two men were raised under dissimilar circumstances and environments. It can be supposed that the way they grew up directly relates to the views they had on the racial problems and the way...
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...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...
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...Professor D. P. Dash | Assignment Title | #2 Group AssignmentMartin Luther King Jr. - I Have A Dream | Due Date | Week 8 | Date Received | | DECLARATION | To be completed if this is an individual assignment: I declare that this assignment is my individual work. I have not worked collaboratively nor have I copied from any other student’s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgment is made explicitly in the text, nor has any part been written for me by another person. | Student ID | Student Name | Student Signature | Student 1 | | | | To be completed if this is a group assignment: We declare that this is a group assignment and that no part of this submission has been copied from any other student's work or from any other source except where due acknowledgment is made explicitly in the text, nor has any part been written for us by another person. | Student ID | Student Name | Student Signature | Student 1 | 4240138 | Danushka Nirmal De Silva | | Student 2 | 4235150 | Ngu Ing Sung | | Student 3 | 4237293 | Dashilla Ladaey | | Student 4 | 4237323 | Ahmad Akmal Afiq | | Student 5 | 100070566 | Lasse Svenning Jensen | | MARKER’S COMME Total Mark | | Marker’s Signature | | Date | | EXTENSION CERTIFICATE | This assignment has been given an extension by Unit Convenor | | Extended due date: | | Date Received | | Martin Luther King Jr. – I Have a Dream An analysis of a historically important leadership...
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...Famous Thinkers Paper PHL/458 September 17, 2012 Prof. John Muench Famous Thinkers Paper The world has had numerous famous thinkers that have inflicted change upon society through their views. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cornel West are two examples of famous thinkers that has through years of trials and tribulations, had their personal journeys turn into societal change. This paper will chronicle their personal journeys and how their contributions changed the way society acts today. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. He was raised in an environment where African-Americans were singled out and isolated in the southern part of the United States. He enrolled and graduated from a public school at the age of fifteen and earned his diploma in Sociology from Morehouse College in 1948. He later enrolled at a graduate school in Boston where he met his wife, Coretta Scott, who understood Martin’s purpose in the African-American society. Martin continued the legacy of his father and grandfather and joined the Ebenezer Baptist church, serving as co-pastor alongside his father. In this little Baptist church is where Martin Luther King Jr. began to instill has beliefs and values amongst the African-American society. As an African-American minister and belligerent leader, people looked up to him as he fought for the rights of the African-American society. Cornel West was born on June2, 1953 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended Harvard and received his graduate degree from...
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