Analysis of Obama's Victory Speech
Analysis of Obama`s Victory Speech
The presidential victory speech delivered by Barack Obama who is the president to be was held on November 4, 2008, in Grant Park, Chicago. It is about his won election for the office as the president.
I will take a closer look on how Obama emphasizes his speech with stylistic devices.
The speech is divided into four parts. The first part is from ll. 1-26, the second from ll. 27- 70, the third from ll. 71-9 and the last from ll. 95-105.
In the first part of the speech Obama uses many stylistic devices. He makes repetitions (“three hours, four hours”, l.10), (“Blue States”, l.20, “United States”, l.21) to underline his ideas and to emphasize that people waited long to have the chance to vote even for the first time (ll. 7-13) and that the USA is one state (ll. 18-21). He also uses a metaphor (“arc of history”, l. 25) to evoke the picture of a unity that hopes together and that believes as one in the American Dream. Obama also refers to the American Dream in the first lines where he wants the audience to think about it and he wants the listeners to ask themselves if they believe in it. He tries to get the attention by addressing the audience (“If there is anyone out there...”, l.1). In addition to that he makes many anaphoras (“who still”, ll. 1,3,4) to underline the importance of the American Dream to the Nation. With an enumeration (ll. 14-17) he shows that everyone not only the rich but also the poor have something to say and have a choice.
In the middle section of the speech Obama uses personifications (“...the enormity of the task that lies ahead.”, l. 40) to point out the importance of the things that have to be done. With an enumeration (“l. 45) he involves the audience to show them which work they have to expect. Another point is that he uses repetitions (“I will” , ll. 51, 52, 53) and (“There”, l. 50) to make the listeners understand that he will be there for everyone and that he will never leave them with no hope.
The presidential victory speech delivered by Barack Obama who is the president to be was held on November 4, 2008, in Grant Park, Chicago. It is about his won election for the office as the president.
I will take a closer look on how Obama emphasizes his speech with stylistic devices.
The speech is divided into four parts. The first part is from ll. 1-26, the second from ll. 27- 70, the third from ll. 71-9 and the last from ll. 95-105.
In the first part of the speech Obama uses many stylistic devices. He makes repetitions (“three hours, four hours”, l.10), (“Blue States”, l.20, “United States”, l.21) to underline his ideas and to emphasize that people waited long to have the chance to vote even for the first time (ll. 7-13) and that the USA is one state (ll. 18-21). He also uses a metaphor (“arc of history”, l. 25) to evoke the picture of a unity that hopes together and that believes as one in the American Dream. Obama also refers to the American Dream in the first lines where he wants the audience to think about it and he wants the listeners to ask themselves if they believe in it. He tries to get the attention by addressing the audience (“If there is anyone out there...”, l.1). In addition to that he makes many anaphoras (“who still”, ll. 1,3,4) to underline the importance of the American Dream to the Nation. With an enumeration (ll. 14-17) he shows that everyone not only the rich but also the poor have something to say and have a choice.
In the middle section of the speech Obama uses personifications (“...the enormity of the task that lies ahead.”, l. 40) to point out the importance of the things that have to be done. With an enumeration (“l. 45) he involves the audience to show them which work they have to expect. Another point is that he uses repetitions (“I will” , ll. 51, 52, 53) and (“There”, l. 50) to make the listeners understand that he will be there for everyone and that he will never leave them with no hope.