Meaning John F. Kennedy inaugural address analysis : On a special day in 1961, John F. Kennedy spoke to the citizens of America and the World. Mr. Kennedy used this speech to bring the audience together, and to celebrate his victory as being elected president. He overwhelms the audience with a speech that will always be remembered, I know this because (Rhetorical Analysis Essay Rough Draft: JFK Inaugural Address). In the fifth paragraph of JFK’s famous speech he uses the rhetorical strategy alliteration; “pay any price, bear any burden…” which means to pay the price for everything that gets in the way, and to bear the burdens in life. John also uses the device of allusion in which he says, “those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside” he meant that those who follow the power become the power. One example of ethos that JFK used in his speech is, “with a good conscience our only sure reward with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and his help but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” Meaning that God is our creator and his work is ours. One example of logos that John used in his speech is “new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free” which means the new states are now apart of the land of the free and the home of the brave. Lastly, John used pathos as apart of his speech; “The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor
Compare how the speakers (JFK and Tim Collins) shape their language to create a sense of voice The inaugural speech, presented by John F. Kennedy, and the ‘Eve of battle’ speech, presented by Tim Collins, can both be analysed for the similarities and also differences, comparing how the speakers shape their language specifically to create a sense of voice. The instantly recognisable difference between the two texts is the genre. The speech by John F. Kennedy (JFK) is his inaugural address.
We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.” This statement not only embodied the message that JFK advocates for in his inaugural address but this statement is also an example of an aphorism. Throughout his address, JFK utilizes rhetorical devices for various micro-purposes but for the macro-purpose of strengthening his position and furthering the endless mission of mankind: global equality and prosperity.
For my speaker and speech analysis assignment, I chose JFK’s inaugural address speech. I chose this speech because I think he has an interesting story and with this speech, he inspired a great amount of optimism and patriotism in America. It is often considered one of our country’s most important speeches. In my analysis, I will be focusing on JFKs background, and many aspects of his speech including his delivery, organizational, persuasive and rhetorical techniques.
Mainly touching on justice and power, JFK’s call to action was missing information that many other addresses contained. Through his use of juxtaposition, phrases such as, “…Man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life,” may have been understood too superficially and not as a stab at the skewed priorities throughout the Cold War. Kennedy also discusses God throughout the address, referring to religion through phrases such as “almighty God” and “God’s work must truly be our own,” there is a gray area revealed between his idea of the separation of church and state. Being the first Roman Catholic president, there was already and general speculation, and using spiritual vernacular, Kennedy indicated that religion would be a driving force behind his decision-making
John F. Kennedy’s was known as a very patriotic person, and that would raise the question why. Well, the answer can simply be found in his inauguration speech. He gave the speech to bolster the fighting spirit and act as an inspiration for the Americans. How he does this is interestingly simple by smart actually. He used a plethora of stylistic devices extensively in his speech.
In John F. Kennedy’s incentive Inaugural Address speech, he inspires his audience by using rhetorical devices such as antithesis, parallelism and pathos to create unity and expand human rights in his country. The first implement that is introduced in this speech is
He displays personification in his speech by quoting,”Now the summons us again-not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need;not as to call to battle ,but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle rejoicing in hope.” This quote uses a trumpet to symbolize a call for serenity and not warfare. The trumpet shows the struggle between poverty,tyranny, and war itself to find happiness and promise in the world. Finally, Kennedy uses repetition in lines 15-28 stating “Let both sides” to display a need for
“For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” This quote from the 35th president of the United States set a precedent of greatness for our country. The man who set such a precedent was John F. Kennedy. A very persuasive and well-read man, when he gave his inaugural address, our nation and the world knew we were in good hands. JFK not only was well-read, he gave moving speeches.
Kennedy often sets himself equal to his audience, as if saying that he is no better than anybody else, gaining their respect and support. For example in Kennedy’s inaugural speech, he states, “ United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures.” In this Kennedy is placing himself in the same category as his audience and saying that he needs them, just as much as they need him. Another example of Kennedy setting himself equal to his audience is, “ In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.” In this statement, John F. Kennedy is saying that the people of America, united, have more power than him.
In his speech Kennedy uses different rhetorical devices to unify the citizens of both the United States and the world. Kennedy was giving this speech after winning by a very small margin of votes so he was trying to unite the people of the United States and show he was the correct choice for the president. This speech was given during the Cold War so he was trying to connect the people around the whole world and establish peace. Kennedy was able to unify the people and try to establish peace while at the same time making himself seem like a very competent leader. In his speech Kennedy tries to build his credibility as a personable leader by creating ethos.
President John F. Kennedy 55 years ago, during his inaugural address, called for Americans to serve their country with the powerful quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Since then, a million Americans have signed up for service through AmeriCorps. I can testify that data because I’m one in a million that is currently serving as an AmeriCorps member at City Year Washington D.C. The reason why I’m serving currently as a core member at City Year is because I believe that in order to change the world, you have to start from home.
His diction is very inclusive; he commences his speech with several uses of the words ‘we’ and ‘our’, which makes way for inclusivity. JFK is blurring the distinction between citizen and superior governor by including the people in his proclamation. While describing the hardships and challenges that the country is facing, Kennedy mentions how imperative the occasion is on a global level; in the midst of the Cold War, he reminds his audience of the importance of uniting. Through the use of the lexical field of danger — words such as: ‘defiance’, ‘serious’, ‘risk’, and ‘sacrifice’ — he creates a feeling of tension and urgency, and engages his audience to the concern. To conclude his speech, the President mentions self-guilt on the part of the country on how they had not displayed the “sense of business responsibility” that they should have, a rhetorical strategy that approximates the audience to the government.
Oziel Rios S. Nambiar English 1302. SP3 12 February 2018 Kennedy Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis On Friday, January of 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered a speech to the citizens of the United States of America and the world. Kennedy made a speech that he knew would be remembered for many years to come even after his presidential term.
The Inaugural speech by John F. Kennedy is a landmark type of speech that was given to the American populace in order to inspire confidence and to provoke them to take immediate action. His speech made extensive use of rhetorical devices in order to successfully express his goals. His stylistic devices include antithesis, parallelism, and varying structure flows in order to attract attention and to show what his service will accomplish. Kennedy details “a new generation of Americans” by contrasting old and new with his antithesis. He states, “Symbolizes an end as well as a beginning” and “signifies renewal as well as change” in order to do so.
Kennedy wisely sticks to using pathos throughout his entire speech, rather than relying on his then-minimal ethos or allowing his stirring speech to become bogged down by logos represented by the dull facts and figures of statistics. As a very young President just starting his first term, Kennedy lacks the reputation and reliability that an older, more experienced politician might have available. While it is true that most of the nation had seen him on television during the Nixon-Kennedy Presidential debates, those debates were the near-total of the people’s exposure to the dashing young President, and a pretty face does not a solid political reputation make! However, no matter how dashing and heroic he might have appeared to be in those