ipl-logo

Alliteration In Letter From Birmingham Jail

442 Words2 Pages

Through unexpected ways, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. creates an eye-opening letter. King does this in, Letter from Birmingham Jail, as he responds to the clergymen who sent him a letter against his peaceful protests that took place in Birmingham, Alabama. The author appeals to ethos, pathos, and alliteration adding credibility and emotion to his argument claiming that peaceful protests combatting racial segregation are needed. To strengthen his argument, Dr. King first established his credibility by appealing to ethos. One example of ethos that develops his argument in the Letter from Birmingham Jail is, “So I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here” (Paragraph 3). Through this quote, Dr. King confirms his location in Birmingham by stating that his organization is the reason for protesting in Alabama. This shows he is acting as a professional, serious, and respectful man and he is not there randomly or radically. …show more content…

An example in the text would be, “Isn't his like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery? Isn't this like condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and his inquiries precipitated the act by the misguided populace in which they made him drink hemlock?” (Paragraph 26). This quote uses alliteration by repeating “Isn't this” through rhetorical questions providing an example of logic. The result of mentioning real-world scenarios and backward logic relates his cause to others who have been wrongfully convicted. He states that one can not blame an individual simply because they are fighting for their rights, in his case

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Allusion In Letter Of Birmingham Jail

    185 Words  | 1 Pages

    The letter of Birmingham jail written by Martin Luther King Jr remains one of the best-known texts of the civil rights era. Its success is due to the the efficient use of rhetorical devices that he used flawlessly as well as the way he positioned his claims, One of many of these devices was an allusion, where King presents associations with his text and religion where King presents associations with his text and religious figures and historical events that emphasize the theme he is presenting. An example of an allusion can be seen in paragraph 3 when King quotes “the prophets of the eighth century B.C.” and “the Apostle Paul”. , Figures are a very strong factor in this text. Martin Luther King Jr also known as King provided a comparison between

    Read More

  • Literary Devices Used In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    183 Words  | 1 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr. 's ‘Letter From Birmingham Jail’ uses many different forms of literary elements in a very successful attempt to grab the audience’s attention and sway them to his point of view. Throughout the letter, he uses multiple rhetorical statements, metaphors, analogies, and even direct references to certain figures and events, which creates a very well-delivered and convincing argument. King also chooses to focus on the African-American suffering from segregation and racial inequality, and even uses his daughter as an example of what African-American children were going through at that time. Using emotional text/tone to spark emotion from the reader can be very convincing in an argument because it gives the reader a different

    Read More

  • Ethos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    252 Words  | 2 Pages

    On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr addresses his fellow Clergymen about why he is in jail by releasing a “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” The King discusses the recent events that have led up to this point of him being behind bars. The King begins to use ethos at the start of his letter by explaining to the reader that he is the serving president of the Southern Christian leadership conference. He continues by saying that the affiliates in Birmingham invited him to engage in a nonviolent direct action program.

    Read More

  • Ethos Pathos Logos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    1049 Words  | 5 Pages

    The “Letter from Birmingham Jail” was released on April 16th 1963 in response to 8 prominent clergymen in Alabama. These clergymen had criticized Doctor Martin Luther Jr. about being a radical extremist for the civil rights movement. Also, the clergymen tried to leverage the black community to disassociate themselves with the protest MLK was having. They claimed his protest were untimely and meant to incite violence amongst the patrons of Alabama and further polarize whites and blacks. In response, Dr. King devises a writing masterpiece with this letter from the Birmingham Jail by utilizing ethos, logos, and pathos to express his frustration with the white moderates.

    Read More

  • Pathos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    493 Words  | 2 Pages

    By using rhetorical devices and appeals such as pathos and ethos, Martin Luther King Jr. successfully convinces the clergymen to understand his cause against racial injustice and persuades them not to interfere with his plans in his 1963 “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” His eloquent writing and skillful use of multiple techniques are what make the message of his letter so impactful. King’s use of pathos and ethos makes the audience more inclined to agree with King’s cause and trust him as a person. Using ethos, King (1963) states his position as the “president of the Southern Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia,” (p. 1).

    Read More

  • Pathos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    285 Words  | 2 Pages

    The two main purposes of writing the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" were to respond to the criticism of the moderate white clergy who opposed the nonviolent direct action and to defend the strategy of nonviolent resistance as the most powerful weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice. In the letter, Martin Luther King Jr. uses various strategies to convey his ideas effectively. One of the strategies is the use of ethos. He establishes himself as a credible and knowledgeable authority on issues of race, religion, and justice.

    Read More

  • Pathos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    477 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dr martin Luther king jr is an influential figure in civil rights. While in jail for peacefully protesting he received a letter telling him that protests are "unwise and untimely. " In response to this, he wrote a letter from jail. He uses ethos pathos and allusion to establish himself as a credible leader.

    Read More

  • How Is Allusion Used In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    729 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, he points out and explains all the injustice being done to the black community. King addresses the letter to the 6 white clergymen who wrote a newsletter not understanding all the hardships and discrimination. He has to be aware that these people are close-minded, so making them see this big issue from a different perspective is going to be difficult. Furthermore, Martin Luther King Jr. uses allusion and anaphora to demonstrate the injustice and help people empathize with him and his cause. Martin Luther King Jr. utilizes allusion throughout his letter to help the clergymen understand by comparing his movement to religion.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

    740 Words  | 3 Pages

    While in solitary confinement for nearly 8 days, reverend and social justice activist, Martin Luther King Jr., wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail in response to the criticism he received for his non-violent protests. Several clergy who negatively critiqued King’s approach of seeking justice, wrote A Call for Unity, arguing that his protests were senseless and improper. Within the article, the clergymen provide nine different critiques that asserted how King’s protest are invalid, uneffective, and simply unintelligent in the fight for obtaining justice and equity for individuals of color. His letter has become one of the most profound pieces of literature of the 20th century, as King uses vivid examples and eloquent rhetorical devices to counter all nine arguments.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of A Letter From Birmingham Jail

    709 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “A Letter From A Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King Jr defends his use of nonviolent protest in order to accomplish racial equality. In the letter, Dr. King uses ethos, diction, and allusions when defending nonviolent protest which makes his argument really strong. His goal is to make the clergymen help him fight racial equality. He uses ethos to build up credibility.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Mlk Letter To Birmingham

    95 Words  | 1 Pages

    Upon being imprisoned for marching Dr Martin Luther King wrote a letter to the fellow clergymen of Birmingham, addressing his reasons as to why he committed his “crime”, This letter was widely known as “The Letter of Birmingham”. This letter was very influential and paramount to the cause of civil rights as it spurred up future events that would play essential roles in ending racial segregation in America. Throughout his whole letter, King used Ethos, logos, and pathos to firmly get his message across while adding rhetorical devices such as repetition, metaphors, and biblical references.

    Read More

  • Diction In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    427 Words  | 2 Pages

    The writer’s meticulous use of selection of detail, diction and deductive reasoning allows the reader to further understand the events that occurred along with the effects it had on the community as a whole. Those who disagreed with his actions were disproved through these rhetorical devices, allowing them to comprehend his reasoning for his behavior in Birmingham. Overall Martin Luther King’s letter from the Birmingham jail is

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter To Birmingham Jail

    1546 Words  | 7 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong leader in the Civil Rights movement, the son and grandson of a minister, and one heck of a letter writer. As he sits in a cell of Birmingham Jail in 1963, he responds to criticism from eight white clergymen. Though this letter was intended for the judgemental and condescending men of high faith, his response touched the hearts and minds of the entire U.S. population, then, and for years to come. In his tear-jerking, mind-opening letter, King manages to completely discredit every claim made by the clergymen while keeping a polite and formal tone. Metaphors, allusions, and rhetorical questions are used in the most skillful way to support his argument and ultimately convince his audience of the credibility behind his emotional, yet factual, claims.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of The Letter From Birmingham Jail

    623 Words  | 3 Pages

    Have you ever read an article or book that express a lot of sympathy and it made you feel as if you can feel their pain. “The Letter From Birmingham Jail” displays the true meaning of pathos. After reading this” letter” emotions will overflow. Dr. King wrote with so much passion and courage, that it makes his readers feel as if they were part of the movement. He shows his concerns for the African American community by expressing their thoughts and feelings because they feel as if they have no voice.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

    907 Words  | 4 Pages

    Because of his skill in creating such pieces of writing, as well as his influential role within the Civil Rights Movement, and the reminder that Letter from Birmingham Jail provides of these trying times, his letter should continue to be included within A World of Ideas. Persuasion within writing is an important tool to be utilized in order to garner support for one’s position. During the 1960s, equality between different races was a very controversial issue which required a certain finesse when being discussed. Martin Luther King demonstrated precisely this sort of finesse when writing about the racial injustices faced by black Americans, as well as when refuting the criticisms he faced from white clergymen.

    Read More

More about Alliteration In Letter From Birmingham Jail

Open Document