Preview

Jfk Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
694 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Jfk Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis
Every four years America elects a new president to run our country, and in January of the next year the new president makes a speech to the American people. Each president takes office at a different time in the country, which requires a different type of speech for the American citizens. When John F. Kennedy took office in 1961, America had been dealing with the Cold War, the Space Race, and the Civil Rights Movement, so America needed a speech the would send hope and strength to themselves and the rest of the world. President Kennedy used pathos, varying modes of writing, and numerous literary devices to send hope and encouragement to the American people, but he also wanted to make sure that message was known by the rest of the world. Kennedy used pathos to encourage and instil fear in the US citizens, so they could make America better than it already was. He starts his essay with the emotional appeal by saying this presidency was an “end as well as a beginning” (Kennedy 2). He also ends his speech by communicating, “[t]he energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world” (Kennedy 25). By his structuring his essay this way, it gives the people hope at the beginning, and it lets that be one of the last things the audience hears. Kennedy does this to primarily to remind the audience that they should have hope, no …show more content…
The speech often echoes the mood of the country at the time the speech is made. Kennedy decided to use two main elements in his speech; fear and hope. He intended for people to be hopeful for the future, but he also wants people to know they will have to work towards the future. He notes that this will not be easy to achieve, but it is attainable. Now in 2016, we have a new president-elect. Our president-elect’s speech, like Kennedy, will echo the issues of today’s world and today’s

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech, a speech that gave his plans for the next four years of presidency, and unified all american citizens under one idea. Fifty years later, writer Eleanor Clift published an essay about her beliefs which she meant to show how the united states as a whole failed to carry on JFK’s legacy. JFK’s inaugural speech was very hopeful and positive, while Clift’s essay, “Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 years on”, was very rueful and somber. Although their purposes and tones contrast, the way that they both use different rhetorical devices makes it so they share one comparison, they both speak to the same audience.…

    • 243 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As a president of a biggest country of the world, we can see that our president is skillful speaker. He is the one of greatest american speakers. One of his famous speech is " Ask not what your country can do for you" when he is in his inaugural address. President Kennedy have used many of the tools in rhetorical or presuasive writing. He has full knowleged with Aristotle three areas of rhetorical such as: Ethos, Pathos and Logos.…

    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kennedy doesn’t actually use many statics or numbers to build ethos, but instead uses his credibility and affirming words to build credibility. Having been elected into office it is a safe assumption that he was already widely accepted as a credible source by this time. He also builds ethos in the way he holds himself and by his manner of speaking in a clear and annunciated way. Ethos is not built from a name only, but from the verbiage that JFK used masterfully. He was well aware of the fact that not everyone supported him or his party, which is why he opens with “We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom…” Who would not stand behind that? He then goes on to address opponents of his by stating, “We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom,” this is a way he ties in Pathos to his introduction; playing at the innate drive Americans have for freedom. He conveys a respect for other opinions and views; this can be a major way to build credibly when speaking to people who may not agree. He doesn’t use numbers to talk up his credibility but instead appeals to many groups, this a good use of Ethos, while also using multiple rhetorical devices at once.…

    • 878 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    John F. Kennedy is one of the nation’s most popular and recognizable presidents of the 20th century. Kennedy is most famous in his presidency for his powerful and inspiring speeches. His positive energy and young yet wise personality made him easy to listen to for all audiences. In fact, on January 20th, 1961 John F. Kennedy delivered one of the most remembered speeches of all time; his inaugural address. At a time of racial tensions, economic hardships, and lingering fears of war, he strived to bring comfort and confidence to the American people. In order to achieve this, Kennedy understood and addressed the need for dire changes to be made for the good of the country, through the involvement of the people. Therefore, Kennedy…

    • 1231 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address took place in Washington D.C on 20th January, 1961 and was his very first speech as president. Kennedy spoke from a strong moral and humanitarian position, which made it difficult for people to disagree with him on certain points, for example, when Kennedy called all American citizens to be active participants in the future. This was emphasised by one of Kennedy’s most notable quotes “And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” A couple of distinctive voices he aimed to achieve with this speech were as president, as he was speaking on behalf of his citizens and as a humanitarian as he was a spokesman for equality and justice for all people. The Cold War was an overwhelming issue at the time of his election and throughout his presidency. Kennedy used euphemisms such as “the hand of mankind’s final war” in relation to the possibility of a nuclear war, to play down any fear that was created by the cold war. He uses tone to illustrate that he is a dedicated, fearless president when he says, “I do not shrink from this responsibility, I welcome it.” This use of tone also indicates that he is a confident, visionary president when he says, “The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it.”…

    • 818 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    At the beginning of his speech Kennedy employs an emotional appeal in order to let his audience know about the major events, such as the grave crises in Berlin and Southeast Asia, and let them know they are taken consideration of. Kennedy,…

    • 162 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    To achieve this goal, Kennedy establishes pathos when he appeals to the emotional side of those who had lost loved ones by telling them, “The graces of young Americans who answered the call of service surround the globe.” This quote serves to inspire the nation to stand up and make them realize that those honorable deaths have not been in vain with actions that will make this country more successful than any other country again.…

    • 1652 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    JFK Inaugural Address

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages

    President John F. Kennedy (JFK) is the 35th president of the United States of America. On January 20, 1961, he made his Inaugural Address. In this speech, he addressed his goals for the nation when he says, "we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty." By this means that as a nation, we should meet any needs necessary to maintain the freedom and justice of the people. He uses effective tactics and rhetorical devices, such as anaphora, chiasmus, and asyndeton, to maintain a conversational, yet clear and compelling, tone throughout the speech.…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    By using theses rhetorical devices in his writing John F. Kennedy’s speech make its more memorable and more powerful.As it implies deeper though and invokes to think in unity rather than for only ourselfs but think of all the people in the coutnry.He wanted us to think farther into the future than just in his term or their lives but rather in the continuty of the Nation as a…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Why was President Kennedy’s inaugural address so moving? He used many rhetorical devices and formed a good rhetorical tone that made his speech very inspiring. Kennedy, in his inaugural address, talks about the problems of the country and the world and how to fix them. He wants the American citizens to be reassured that he will do many great things and hold a great term in office. One reason that his speech was so convincing was because he appealed to his audiences’ emotions (pathos) effectively all over throughout his essay.…

    • 556 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    On January 20th of 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy gave his inaugural speech in front of thousands, while millions were watching on television. He was sworn into office as the thirty fifth president of the United States of America. In his speech, JFK uses rhetorical analysis to persuade the audience, which was filled with a lot of different ethnicities.…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The youthful energy found in John F. Kennedy's speech is evident throughout. He had just won a long hard fought campaign, yet chose not to focus on the policies that helped him win specifically. The goals he has are illustrated in strong appeals to emotion, by making a connection with the everyday American citizen. He personalizes his speech in looking forward to the future while using the past as an example.…

    • 270 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address is one of the briefest documents in history, it perfectly describes what he plans to do in his time in being president. This speech goes over the period of the Cold War and other matters going on in the world in the early sixties. This was a period in which most Americans were worried about the planet, goals that need to be achieved to ensure the safety of the people of the U.S. and also the new technological advances that were being made. The United States was torn between racism in the 1960’s and Kennedy had to address that in his time in being the president. The Cold War was also at its peak during that time (Bragdon) and the people of the U.S. knew that Kennedy was a young and inexperienced president and were worried about how he was going to lead the nation in times of crisis.…

    • 1119 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John F. Kennedy's Speech

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages

    John F. Kennedy promoted change and sought to have peace. The structure of Kennedy’s speech is also parallel. He uses a repeating grammatical structure to create a rhythm that evokes the audience’s attention. His address is empowering to the american people and he was very clear on his view of america. Kennedy called upon his fellow Americans to start getting involved in the government and to start serving their country and he invites a new era of peace and cooperation. He calls upon Americans for cooperation, sacrifice, and idealism.…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jfk Inaugural Address

    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages

    President John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address, given on January 20, 1961 at the Capitol, was undoubtedly one of the best inaugural speeches ever given. This speech was intended to be heard by all of the citizens of the US, and with over 20,000 in attendance, and many more watching at home on television, he reached much of his targeted audience. I believe he used this speech to inform the citizens of the United States about what he planned to do for the country while in office, as well as to motivate the citizens to come together and work toward a goal of peace and liberty, which is what he hoped to achieve. The speech was very well organized. It seemed to have a flow to it and move easily from one point to the next. He seemed to have prepared…

    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays