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How Did Ronald Reagan Use Rhetorical Devices In Tear Down This Wall

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Michael Andersen Mr. Bolton Public Speaking CIHS 4 April, 2023 Great Speech Analysis: Tear Down This Wall, Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan, in his persuasive speech, “Tear Down This Wall” (1987) challenges Soviet authority to tear down the Berlin Wall and allow West and East Germany to reunite. Reagan supports his statement by using apostrophe, anadiplosis and anaphora. Reagan's purpose was to prod communist authority in East Germany. Reagan addresses those who were watching television in Europe, North America and especially those that attended his speech live at the Berlin Wall. Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois on February 6, 1911. Growing up in Tampico, he graduated from Eureka college. Graduating from college he became a sports …show more content…

Using words that mean the same thing, but said differently doesn’t make a speech sound plain. Repeating the same word could’ve lost the attention of his listeners, thus making anaphora and rhetorical device used in this speech. Apostrophe is another rhetorical device that is used throughout the Tear down this wall speech. Reagan uses it as he says, “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall. He is addressing someone who did not attend the speech but says it as though Gorbachev is in the audience. Using an effective tone of voice and body language, Reagan was able to captivate the audience. Reagan also has a good dialect, pronouncing words effectively and precisely. Reagan repeats words at the beginning that he ended his sentences in. Anadiplosis is what is being used throughout the speech. Using this rhetorical device increases the power of persuasion. This secures the audience's attention during the speech. He speaks with a calm and demanding tone, which sounds more persuasive than using a harsh demanding tone. “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this

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