Literary Techniques Used In Martin Luther King's Speech

The I Have a Dream is probably the most motivational and heart-felt speech of American history.It’s such an eloquent,well-written piece that spoke so much volume for its time.King’s speech has many literary devices and rhetorical appeals. He starts of the the essay with an immediate Logos appeal.He restates the Gettysburg Address speech by Abraham Lincoln, “Five score years ago, a great american…” Throughout the essay he speaks in slow and steady cadence.In the first paragraph he uses vivid imagery(pathos) by comparing hope to a “Great beacon light” and continues to describe that light of hope being “...seared in the flames of withering injustice.” In the following paragraph he uses the literary device of repetition, “One hundred years later…” Using this technique he emphasizes each example he gives.He then continues to stress the word all in his speech, putting emphasis on his meaning of everyone.King continues to use repetition in later paragraphs such as “Now is the time…” He uses the rhetorical appeal of Pathos by evoking emotion when he says, “It would be fatal

in his speech,“I Have a Dream” claims that America hasn’t fulfilled their promise that guaranteed everyone “Unalienable rights.”He supports his claim by first comparing African americans equality to a “bad check” that says “insufficient funds.” Then he encourages the people to end the racial injustice of the country and make justice a reality.Finally, he insists that America will not be calm and tranquil until everyone are granted the same rights. King’s purpose is to inform his audience of the inequalities and injustice of America in order to then bring about hope that it won’t always be that way and that together everyone can form a “beautiful symphony of brotherhood”. He establishes a hopeful and motivational tone to his audience by stating his dream of everyone of every color,religion, and origin to be free from discrimination and