ipl-logo

Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Devices Analysis

804 Words4 Pages

The setting is Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA on July 4th 1776. Thomas Jefferson and nearly 60 other men have sat down to discuss and confirm the split from England. A document has been constructed to inform King George III of the injustices that the United States of America has felt continuously. As the men effectively build their argument against the king, the use of rhetorical devices is prevalent. The rhetorical devices Thomas Jefferson used to inform the King of England of his wrongdoings were parallelism, anaphora and allusions. The first paragraph, known as the introduction, discusses how when the decision is made to break away from that the reasons must be rational and concise. In this paragraph, Jefferson states that, “it becomes …show more content…

As Jefferson goes on, he explains that when the American nation feels that these natural rights have been violated by a leader that it is their duty to secede from that particular power and institute the government that will better serve them. In this paragraph, we see two various forms of rhetorical devices including parallelism and allusion. Parallelism can be seen when the document states, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The word “that” is what makes the sentence parallel since it is repeated to ensure the sentence flows smoothly, as well as making emphasis on what is self-evident. Secondly, we see again the use of allusion when a reference to “their Creator” is mentioned. Again, the reference to God is a figure that both the American and British citizens hold in high regard as the document is stating that their are certain rights men are “endowed” …show more content…

The paragraph also states how any ruler who chooses to rule as a tyrant is unfit for the position of power. We then see a use of parallelism as Jefferson lists all of the items that the United States has an issue with when he states, “ We have reminded them… We have appealed to… and we have conjured.”
Finally, the conclusion of the Declaration are the closing words that announce that due to the past issues that King George III has caused and the natural rights granted to American citizens that United States would no longer be under British command. Due to this, the United States now has the ability to “levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce…” This is also an example of parallelism as the statement uses a description word followed by what the country is now able to do. In conclusion, Thomas Jefferson’s intelligent way of writing undoubtedly heightened the effect of the document. While numerous other rhetorical devices were used, I felt that parallelism, anaphora and allusion were among the most important. There is much credit owed to Jefferson and the numerous other men who took part in constructing America’s most important

Show More
Related

  • Benjamin Banneker Declaration Of Independence Analysis

    426 Words  | 2 Pages

    Within Benjamin Banneker’s letter, he implements pathos in order to illustrate the unjust and hypocritical actions of Thomas Jefferson, in order to exhibit that Jefferson, of all people, should be understanding and ashamed of the fear and injustice which he is imposing. Banneker inflicts these emotions through allusions and flashbacks. The United States was once under the British control, leaving the United States feeling helpless, fearful, and impotent. During this time period, Thomas Jefferson, took part in writing the Declaration of Independence, a document which states the equality of men and the justification of freedom. Banneker alludes to the Declaration in the seventh paragraph to exhibit the hypocrisy which Jefferson demonstrates.

    Read More

  • Essay On Kennedy And Benjamin Banneker

    954 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are occasions that cause for political activist to take a stand. Benjamin Banneker and Florence Kelley address social issues with slavery and child labor laws, while John F Kennedy discuss economic issues with private vs public interests. As American society attempts to alter their progress in social equality and economic balance, it has stumbled upon obstacles. Americans strive to achieve greatness, yet the abuse of power and wealth stands in the way.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Declaration Of Independence And A Letter From Birmingham Jail

    602 Words  | 3 Pages

    On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence to voice the need for liberation and rebellion against the English monarchy. On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., a civil right activist, wrote a Letter From Birmingham Jail as he sat in a jail cell after being arrested for protesting the segregation and injustices in not just Alabama, but the entire country The Declaration of Independence and A Letter from Birmingham Jail, although written nearly 200 years apart, share many similarities not only in style, but also in message. Both Jefferson and King had a common message. They were arguing the need for a certain freedom from their oppressors.

    Read More

  • How Important Are Thomas Jefferson's Actions?

    1537 Words  | 7 Pages

    Many people believe that Thomas Jefferson is a powerful individual who helped form our country, and was a great leader through his presidential career. He made the best out of difficult situations, when he knew the complete situation had to remain unsolved, and he also wrote the Declaration of Independence for the help of our country. On the other hand, it can also be debated that Thomas Jefferson is a hypocritic man that nearly destroyed our military,

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson's The Declaration Of Independence Precis

    100 Words  | 1 Pages

    Declaration of Independence Precis Thomas Jefferson in his historical document, The Declaration of Independence (1776), asserts that the colonies should break free from Britain’s tyranny. Jefferson supports his assertion through the use of anaphora, parallel structure, imagery, emotional appeal to patriotism, and logical appeal to the colonist’s basic rights. Jefferson’s purpose is to advocate for the separation of Britain and the colonies in order to escape the British tyranny that King George imposes on the American colonists. Jefferson writes in a measured tone for the British parliament, King George, and for colonists who have been a victim of Britain’s oppression.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson's Inaugural Address

    984 Words  | 4 Pages

    It was a basis for legitimizing his election and his call for unity. He wrote in his address “All too will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression.” (Jefferson) Jefferson was masterful in his words of consolation and complementary in his call for unity and peace. Jefferson persisted in his theme of unity with these words “Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind.”

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Techniques Used In Patrick Henry's Speech To The Virginia Convention

    689 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention” given by Patrick Henry to the President in 1775, asserts that the colonists should not be trying to negotiate with the British. His purpose was to convince the audience that they should not be trying to befriend the people of Great Britain rather that they should make Great Britain their foe. Henry uses his speech to appeal to both the President and the colonist through the use of figurative language, tone, and syntax. Patrick Henry’s use of diction, a persuasive and forceful tone, appeal to ethos and pathos, as well as various syntactical elements in his “Speech to the Virginia Convention” shows that the colonists should be fighting to break away from the British monarchy rather than negotiate terms to try and stay under their clutches.

    Read More

  • Patrick Henry Speech To The Second Virginia Convention Rhetorical Analysis

    701 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Convincing people of something or to do something is not an easy task but Patrick Henry's “Speech to the Second Virginia Convention” shows how well someone can persuade people when they trust you, appeal to their emotions, or back up what you are saying with facts...ethos, pathos, and logos. The purpose of this speech is to persuade the colonist to fight against the british. Patrick is talking to the members of the virginia convention and what they need to do to become free. Patrick Henry uses ethos to help convince the audience that he knows what he's talking about and how they should trust him.

    Read More

  • Ethos Pathos And Logos Jefferson's Declaration Of Independence

    711 Words  | 3 Pages

    If it weren’t for Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, America would look so much different than it is right now. Who knows if the United States would even exist. Arguably, if Jefferson hadn’t written the Declaration, is someone else had, it wouldn’t have been as strong. And possibly, the new colony would have needed to wait longer to become independent, if they became independent at all. But Jefferson’s strong rhetorical appeals help persuade his audience that new colony deserves independent, and his use of allusions contribute greatly to his argument, making his appeals powerful and capture the attention of his audience, and to get them to agree with him.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Patrick Henry

    460 Words  | 2 Pages

    On March 23,1775 Patrick Henry convinced colonists to fight against Britain by using four rhetorical devices which were allusion, imagery, one-word sentences and rhetorical questions. He did this by reading his famous speech called “the Virgina Convention speech”. These four devices helped Patrick Henry convinced many people that were still not willing to go to war. Patrick Henry purpose for using allusion was to helped him connect with the listeners. “Listen to the song of the siren till she transforms us into beast.”

    Read More

  • Persuasion Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis

    658 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the Declaration of Independence, by Thomas Jefferson, he uses three of the major rhetorical techniques of persuasion such as: pathos, which is the appeal to emotion, logos, the appeal to logic, and ethos, the appeal to ethics. One of the many rhetorical techniques of persuasion in the Declaration of Independence, wrote by Jefferson, is pathos, in order to appeal to the reader's emotion. Jefferson uses pathos in order to gain the reader's attention by their emotional side of the Declaration of Independence. “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns,

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Speech In The Virginia Convention

    890 Words  | 4 Pages

    This metaphor conveys to the reader how the colonists´ situation appears similar to slavery; which persuades the reader into believing that the cause of the war remains England's fault. In conclusion, Patrick Henry uses metaphors to persuade the reader into realizing how England has left the colonists with no choice, but

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Common Sense By Thomas Paine

    585 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, “Common Sense”, addressed a response to the American Revolution. Paine’s purpose for writing the piece was to convince the colonists to declare independence from Great Britain. He adopts a patriotic tone, explaining the advantages of and the need to proclaim independence from a tyrannical country. Paine also utilizes multiple rhetorical strategies, and any means necessary, to persuade his audience to share in his beliefs. With the use of constructed argument and rhetorical devices such as ethos, logos and pathos, as well as diction and syntax, Paine is able to present the argument that the United States should strive for its independence from England.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Thomas Jefferson's Declaration Of Independence

    839 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration of Independence,” he uses rhetorical devices to convey his purpose which is to say that colonies have decided to break their bond with the King and Great Britain and to explain their reasoning. One of the devices used the most to convey his purpose was parallelism. Jefferson also uses repetition to make his reasons clear. Some might think that his use of restatement further makes his points clear; however, they are wrong. Jefferson uses rhetorical devices like parallelism and repetition to explain the reasonings of the Colonists decision to break their bonds with the King and Britain.

    Read More

  • The Declaration Of Independence Literary Analysis

    726 Words  | 3 Pages

    Letting the reader know the purpose behind “The Declaration of Independence” and the reason it was made. He then follows this with a description of why the colonies need to break away from Great Britain and start to rely on God. It starts to become clear to the reader that the colonist need to gain their own rights and find happiness. That is one thing that Thomas Jefferson was giving to the people a chance of prosperity and hope. Because for so long they were beaten down and oppressed.

    Read More

More about Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Devices Analysis

Open Document