Miller illustrates the rhetorical strategies used by Martin Luther King Jr. in his literature through his commentary. Miller states that, “King’s social gospel directly reflects the theology of his father, his grandfather and Borders.” (76 Miller). Miller goes on to support his reasoning when he explains, “Their non violent protests- not his reading of Thoreau, Gandhi, Nelson, or Wofford-provided his initial and most significant lessons in nonviolence.” (76 Miller). Miller continues on to analyze King’s rhetorical strategies when addressing the issue of repetition. Martin Luther King Jr. uses reputation throughout his “I Have a Dream” speech. Miller discusses that repetition is an effective tool when preaching a message; he does this when he states, “it helps ensure congregational participation.”(76 Miller), and also when he explains, “A homilist develops authority by embracing well-loved disclosure, creating a voice by melding it with those of previous speakers.”(76 Miller). MLK uses repetition as a way to embed the message in the audiences’ head so it wont be forgotten easily, repetition was also used to show significance in the message being delivered. Another main point of repetition was the audience had a sense of unity because they were aware of the hymn that was drawing them into the preaching. Miller also speaks on the rhetorical strategy that is known as “voice merging”. King Jr. uses voice merging to allow the audience to draw personal connections when he is preaching. Miller illustrates when Martin Luther King Jr. uses voice merging when exclaiming, “In ‘I Have a Dream’ he merges his voice with that of ‘Amos’ (‘We shall never be satisfied till justice rolls down like waters…’) and with those of Isaiah and Jesus (‘I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted…’).” (78 Miller). Keith D. Miller’s commentary provided me with information on different rhetorical strategies used by Martin Luther King Jr.; he effectively illustrated ways…
On August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the prominent speech “I Have a Dream” at the Lincoln Memorial to over 250,000 civil rights supporters. King’s speech was compelling and potent; it moved everyone. Furthermore, he helped change the world where there is justice. He believed in the equality between whites and blacks and died believing it. In addition, he strongly believes freedom exists for the blacks. He states, “[The white’s] destiny is tied up with [the black’s] destiny.” This quote emphasizes the problem of injustice in this world, and it makes the audience move into action. King’s speech was widely known, due to the effective tone he creates throughout his speech. His use of literary tropes and syntactical schemes help make this formidable tone. King’s speech influences the whites and blacks to listen by using extensive anaphora, metaphor, and diction to create a tone of necessity in his “I Have a Dream” speech.…
Martin Luther King is an expert on using strong language to effect his audience. We see this often in his speech I have a Dream, in this excerpt from the speech he mostly uses language to cause an emotional effect on his audience and to provoke action from them.…
After the March on Washington fifty-two years ago civil rights activist Dr. Martin King Jr. delivered for the first time his "I Have a Dream Speech" at the Lincoln Memorial. During the speech, Dr. King offered inspiration and called for an end to racism in America. In fact, he spoke on his personal hopes and dreams for people of all races in his country. One of his hopes was that one day people of color would be judged based off their character, rather than their skin color. As for his dream that he expressed in speech, it was that a day would come that colored people and whites could unite and see one another as equals.…
In 1963 Martin Luther King gave the most powerful and famous speech in the history of the United States. 40 years later, no other speech has been able to overcome the effect that this speech has had on the American people generation after generation. Despite the fact that the message of the speech is perhaps the most enduring aspect of the speech, the rhetorical strategies Martin Luther King used were instrumental in captivating the attention of millions people then, and now. The purpose of “I have a dream” was to awaken awareness about the importance of equality and to transcend his vision through the use of pathos, ethos and biblical imagery, among other elements; these are the strategies that enabled him to compose a dialogue that is essentially as motivating as a work of poetry.…
Martin Luther King (2015) used some very powerful words in, “I Have a Dream.” His word choice alone tells his listeners how serious this movement was. For instance, he rights that America gave them a bad check, which came back marked inefficient funds (King, M.L.). He was letting the people know that no longer will this be accepted. No person should be okay with a bad check so it’s time for them to stand up and stop accepting them. He compares their situation to quicksand, which is something that could suffocate you if it consumed you whole. He is very assertive and passionate about what he says, and did everything right to get his point across.…
Introduction: I have a dream, by Dr. King. Background: Martin Luther King Jr. made one of the most famous speeches known to mankind, “I Have a Dream”. Thesis: The most effective rhetoric appeal in the “I Have a Dream” speech is pathos, show by how serious he is, it makes you motivated, and it can make you feel sad.…
Isn’t it insane to believe that one person can have a crucial influence on society, changing people’s interpretation on the world? Around the 1970s African Americans were looked upon differently compared to Caucasian people and began segregating them. The African Americans saw how unfair they were treated, but extremely few spoke up. One essential person during that time was Martin Luther King Jr. He stated his opinion that everyone should be treated equally, no matter what the consequences were. He is one of the many reasons why the world is the way it is now.…
Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the greatest speeches of all time. He achieves this status because the speech is brilliantly written and flawlessly presented. The speech’s clear purpose is to persuade the audience of the problem that is segregation and to call people to fight for civil rights. King’s language is simple and direct, yet very powerful and well-chosen. The speech itself appears to be easily understood. However simple, it very impactful. He uses analogies throughout the speech, these prove the speech to be more accessible to everyday people. He also treats his audience with a huge amount of respect, acknowledging their troubles, as well as, encouraging them to keep going. His use of the phrase “I have a…
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” is a famous quote by the great Martin Luther King Jr. A lot of men have believed in equality for many different things. But very few have acted upon those beliefs like one man did. Martin Luther King was a man with a belief in equality and he was a man who would do whatever it took to reach his goal because he was hardworking and saw what was wrong with the world. You can see how dedicated he was through tons and tons of things he did. such as his “I Have A Dream”speech, his letter from Birmingham jail, and the protests and huge activities he put together.…
"I Have a Dream" was a speech given by Martin Luther King. King was the last to give his speech for the event. He gave his speech on August 28, 1963 on the Lincoln Memorial. The speech was said in the" March on Jobs and Freedom" to approximately 250,000 people were present. King's main purpose for his speech was to end racial inequality throughout the country. More so to get African Americans as much opportunities as anyone else.…
In crafting his “I have a dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. relies on his credibility as a rhetor to assure his audience’s willingness not only to listen, but also to adopt his dream for the nation. MLK's life experiences helped him appeal to a broad range of audiences. Thus, Dr. King’s hereditary background, education, and occupation laid the foundation for his charisma, which informed his activism and effectiveness as a civil rights leader. Addressing an audience of hundreds of thousands of citizens is not an easy task just any orator could commence. It involves more than filling the air with positive energy and a certain sense of confidence.…
Martin Luther King’s intention for giving his famous I Have a Dream speech is to encourage his audience to recognize that all men are created equal. King supports his argument through a critical tone and through the use of the following rhetorical strategies: repetition of phrases and theme words.…
“Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free,”(King) came from Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream Speech”. Saying even though Blacks were given their rightful freedom, it didn’t get honored by Americans, even a hundred years later, because Whites spent so long believing they were better than everyone,especially Blacks. Dr. King was an example and an inspiration to all, Blacks, Whites, and everyone. He did amazing things as a priest, a family man, and as a black man ridiculed for the…
The speech “I have a dream” by Martin Luther King is acknowledged as one of the best speeches ever delivered. His escalated rhetoric demanding racial justice and an integrated society became a slogan for the black community. King’s words proved to be the basis for understanding the social and political upheaval at the time and gave the nations people a voice of their own to express what was happening. The key message King hoped to get across in his speech was that all people are created equal and that it must be the case for the future of America. King’s speech was by no means improvised, it was well researched and in preparation he studied the Bible, The Gettysburg Address and the US Declaration of Independence as he alludes to all three in his address. The speech can only be described as a political work of poetry and a well delivered, unintentional, yet beautiful, sermon full of biblical language and imagery. As well as rhythm and frequent repetition, alliteration is a key device, used to hit home major points.…