Describe the persuasive appeal of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Refer to specific persuasive devices and literary elements in your answer.
Persuasive appeals/devices: ethos 💪, pathos ♥, logos 🧠
Literary elements: repetition, anaphora, juxtaposition, antithesis, diction…
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Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” uses many persuasive devices and literary elements to appeal to his audience. One example of a persuasive device is [...]. This is shown in the quote, “[...].” A second example of a persuasive device is [...]. This is shown in the quote, “[...].” Using these tactics produced a powerfully persuasive speech. Likewise, the speech is full of literary elements. One example of a literary element King used is [...]. This is shown in the quote, “[...].” A second example of a literary element is [...]. This is shown in the quote, “[...].” King’s words were chosen to make an impact on the audience. In conclusion, King’s speech was powerful because it was carefully crafted.
Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech uses many persuasive devices and literary elements to appeal to his audience. One example of a persuasive device is ethos, as King establishes his credibility as a leader in the civil rights movement. This is shown in the quote, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” By referencing Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, King aligns himself with a revered figure and a historical document that symbolize freedom and equality.
A second example of a persuasive device is pathos, as King appeals to his audience’s emotions by painting vivid pictures of a future where racial equality is a reality. This is shown in the quote, “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.” By appealing to the love and hopes that parents have for their children, King evokes strong emotions in his listeners.
Using these tactics produced a powerfully persuasive speech. Likewise, the speech is full of literary elements. One example of a literary element King used is repetition, specifically anaphora, as he repeats the phrase “I have a dream” to emphasize his vision of a better future. This is shown in the quote, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed.” By repeating this phrase, King creates a rhythmic and memorable effect that drives home his message.
A second example of a literary element is antithesis, as King juxtaposes the current state of racial inequality with his vision of a future of equality and justice. This is shown in the quote, “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.” By contrasting the concepts of dignity and discipline with the injustice of segregation, King highlights the moral imperative of the civil rights movement.
King’s words were chosen to make an impact on the audience. In conclusion, King’s speech was powerful because it was carefully crafted to appeal to the hearts and minds of his listeners, using persuasive devices and literary elements to drive home his message of hope and equality.