length: 1025 words 2.9 double spaced pages rating: red free one of the most influential speeches ever given on the earth was given on a potiumat the lincoln momorial in washington d.c on august 28th 1963. Martin luther used different parts of the english language to enhance the meaning of his speech and bring out the details. Allusions to historic documents, and metaphors seemed to have brought about the emotions that king was trying to arouse in his listeners. This helped him influence his listeners towards wanting equality for all and changing what was happening in the present so they didn't repeat things in the past. The very title of his speech was probably taken from his use of anaphora which was present throughout his speech.

I have a dream that one day the nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed¡k that all men are created equal. For the next few lines of his speech he repeated these words, i have a dream, which helped arouse emotion in his audience and give them hope. This hope was that they would one day be treated as equals and walk side by side with the all other races.

This statement was probably spoken with great emphasis since it gave the listeners the desire to change today instead of continuing to be discriminated against. Martin luther king's speech could have very well been titled something else but because of his use of anaphora which strongly emphasized these words it earned itself the title i have a dream. Martin luther king 's use of alluding to other historic documents, which also deal with equality issues, helped his speech reach the listener. These allusions were probably geared more towards the white listeners than it was towards the black because it provided textual evidence from past documents which stated that all men were created equal and all people should have the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. King also makes a few allusions to the bible let us not seek to satisfy thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred, is the first allusion to the bible in his speech. King does not want the equality seeking listeners to go out and use force or start a battle to get their freedom because then it would give the white people a reason to fight. They would be able to say that the black people were starting a violent protest and needed to be stopped and therefore retaliate with physical violence.

King was smart though and by saying these words he reassured his followers that their destiny and their freedom would not be left in the hands of others and that they would be able to control their own future. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of god's children, black men and white men, jews and gentiles, protestants and catholics, will be able to join hands in the words of the old negro spiritual, free at last! thank god almighty, we are free at last! this entire last paragraph of king's speech is an example of parallelism. This shows that all of these different races and religions are no better than the other. By doing this it seems as though king is trying to let his listeners know that they aren't the only ones that are discriminated against.

All religions are looked down upon by other religions and until they can stand at the same level as the others they will all have problems with not being treated as equals. Another literary device that also has a lot of influence is his use of metaphors. One hundred years later, the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty and in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.

King points out in the very beginning how even though the black people are freed from slavery they are still slaves to the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. When he is speaking about the declaration of independence and how it guaranteed all people the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, king says, america has given the negro people a bad check a check which has come back marked insufficient funds. The check he is speaking of is a comparison to their right to equality, which as of yet they feel they have not received. All of the examples of metaphors were comparing how the black people were discriminated against and being on the receiving end of injustices which were inflicted by the white man. I am an asian myself and our ancestor in the united states of america never receive any treatment better then the african americans.

Even in the years of 2002, some of the asians in america still being called a chink everyday purposely. After reading this great speech by king, i strongly agree and believe that everybody in this nation should be treated equal, including minorities like the asians because even myself had been discriminated by the whites and blacks. If i had one chance to dream and it become true, i would want for all nationallitie to come as one and make this a better earth to live on.

In concusion i would like to tell each and everyone on the earth that color, is just a word. Even we may have different skin color, the blood inside our body, still has the same color. 22 feb 2016 lt edit: i have completely changed the topic of my essay, so this rough draft is completely unrelated to my final draft. I have a dream by martin luther king junior is a widely known speech that demonstrates the power of rhetoric and the effect it can have on the audience. He uses symbolism, metaphorical imagery, and powerful diction to create an impact on the audience.

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These rhetorical strategies demonstrate ethos, pathos, and logos to help the audience understand martin luther king jr’s message and purpose. This speech opens up with a very strong use of diction that creates a logical and emotional appeal on the audience. The main target of this speech is toward the african – american’s living in the united states. Opens up his speech stating that he is grateful for everyone who attended the greatest demonstration of freedom. He then goes on to create a very logical appeal when stating that the emancipation proclamation gave hope to millions of negro slaves who had seared in the flames of withering injustice. The emancipation proclamation was the first event where african – american’s were increasing up the ladder of social hierarchy. Dr king uses anaphora, the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive clauses, to create an appeal of emotion and logic.

He describes that it has been one hundred years after the emancipation proclamation but still the life of the negro is still badly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination , the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. The negro is still languished in the corners of american society and finds himself in exile in his own land. Martin luther king jr repeats the words one hundred years later the negro… targeting the audience who is mostly comprised of african – americans that they are still under oppression and that must change, dr. King uses many instances of symbolism and metaphorical speech to help explain to the audience that there must be equality for all races.

A very clear instance of symbolism and metaphorical speech dr king demonstrates is occurs in the second paragraph. Dr king is comparing the sacred obligation that america has given to the african – americans during that time as a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds. he is stating that america has given promises to the african – americans however, those promises are empty. There are countless instances of symbolism that occur throughout this speech and he is attempting to really connect with the audience and demonstrate an appeal of emotion and logic. He is stating that america has given all these opportunities and chances yet dr king believes all of those opportunities are empty, they are just words. King states to his audience that he refuses to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt , and again he uses anaphora stating that he refuses to believe there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. As stated before these insufficient funds are empty promises that the united state of america has given to the african – americans. Everywhere we turn to in the speech, there is a demonstration of some sort of call to action, telling the audience to rise up and demonstrate their freedom.

Martin luther king tells the audience that it is time to make real the promise of democracy and it is time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. This statement is teeming with emotional appeal, telling the audience that the time is over to stay in the shadows of segregation, and dr king creates this emotional appeal with a very repetitive statement to stand up and represent the african – americans and the idea of racial equality. Overall throughout this piece it is easy to recognize the style of diction that martin luther king uses to demonstrate his point of view on the subject matter. This word is accompanied by the request for justice and that too is constantly repeated throughout the text. He uses anaphora combined with powerful diction to create his final emotional appeal. He asks for america to follow up on its promises to become true to its words we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal this speech had the power to move millions of people and to get them to fight for their freedom.

I Have a Dream Speech Analysis Essay Text

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