Close Reading Questions for I Have a Dream
Grace Kim 11/12/13
English 10H Mrs. Conetta
Close Reading Questions for “I Have a Dream”
1. In the second paragraph, King alludes to Abraham Lincoln but never mentions him by name. What words and phrases does he use to suggest Lincoln’s legacy? Why does he invoke Lincoln’s legacy at this time?
The words and phrases he uses to suggest Lincoln’s legacy are Emancipation Proclamation, segregation and discrimination, and five score years ago. He invokes Lincoln’s legacy at this time because he is saying that although Lincoln made a huge effort to free the slaves a hundred years ago, a hundred years later they are still not free and still go through segregation and discrimination and that nothing really has changed.
2. In paragraphs 3 and 4, King uses an extended metaphor. What metaphor does he use? Provide 3 examples of words or phrases that support this metaphor. Then, describe the overall effect of the metaphor.
The extended metaphor is that in a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. 3 examples that support this metaphor are, “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds,’” “We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation,” and lastly, “So we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand to the riches of freedom and the security of justice. The overall effect of the metaphor is that it gives the speech more fluidity and connects smoothly to each paragraph.
3. In paragraphs 6 through 9, King infers that there may be danger if his words are not heeded. What danger is he referring to? Provide an example from the text. Do you think it is a threat or warning? Why?
The dangers that King is referring to are the riots and protests that might happen if no one listens to what he says. An example from the text is, “There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted
English 10H Mrs. Conetta
Close Reading Questions for “I Have a Dream”
1. In the second paragraph, King alludes to Abraham Lincoln but never mentions him by name. What words and phrases does he use to suggest Lincoln’s legacy? Why does he invoke Lincoln’s legacy at this time?
The words and phrases he uses to suggest Lincoln’s legacy are Emancipation Proclamation, segregation and discrimination, and five score years ago. He invokes Lincoln’s legacy at this time because he is saying that although Lincoln made a huge effort to free the slaves a hundred years ago, a hundred years later they are still not free and still go through segregation and discrimination and that nothing really has changed.
2. In paragraphs 3 and 4, King uses an extended metaphor. What metaphor does he use? Provide 3 examples of words or phrases that support this metaphor. Then, describe the overall effect of the metaphor.
The extended metaphor is that in a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. 3 examples that support this metaphor are, “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds,’” “We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation,” and lastly, “So we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand to the riches of freedom and the security of justice. The overall effect of the metaphor is that it gives the speech more fluidity and connects smoothly to each paragraph.
3. In paragraphs 6 through 9, King infers that there may be danger if his words are not heeded. What danger is he referring to? Provide an example from the text. Do you think it is a threat or warning? Why?
The dangers that King is referring to are the riots and protests that might happen if no one listens to what he says. An example from the text is, “There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted