Rhetorical Analysis Of What Is Your Life's Blueprint? '

553 Words2 Pages

Civil Rights activist and Baptist minister Dr. Martin Luther Kind Jr. once gave a speech to Barrat Junior High Students: a speech they will likely never forget. In,"What is Your Life's Blueprint?", Dr. King hopes to inspire the youth of that school by urging them to be the best that they can be with an extremely sympathetic and zealous tone. He supports his argument with a varied use of juxtaposition, parallelism, anaphora, and extended metaphor to name a few. To begin, Dr. King enhances the social perspective of low wage, unexceptional jobs with juxtaposition, appealing to students who have no other options in their life. These students are stuck because of scholastic achievement or financial situations, and by comparing a undesired job -- street sweeping-- with famously accomplished artists, it is very encouraging. In the text, he states," sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures...like Beethoven composed music...like Leontyne Prince sings..." What matters is not the mediocrity of one's career path, but the attitude and approach one has towards it. The students should not be discouraged they will end up a street cleaner, but worry how they will do said street cleaning to the best of their ability, and this is the emotional effect Dr. King has on his student audience. …show more content…

King is inspiring with the help of parallelism. A student aspires to be the best of the best. However, Dr. King refutes this. In the passage, he states," Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be the sun, just be a star." He appeals to the emotions of his student audience when he stresses on how the quality of work is more important than the status. He supports his previous focus on attitude and ties back to the street cleaner analogy. One does not have to be a street cleaner, but if you are, be the best street cleaner you can

Show More
Related

  • Rhetorical Devices Used In Letter From Birmingham Jail

    504 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. uses his personal experience to convince others of the importance of revising the segregation laws that were in place during 1960’s. In paragraphs 13 and 14 in particular, there is a lot of language used to persuade the reader’s opinions and emotions toward King’s argument. He does this not only convince his fellow clergymen, but to inform others of the reality that African Americans faced in the 60’s.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Martin Luther King And Chris Mccandless

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Chris McCandless once said, “I now walk into the wild,” a phrase that not only represents a future with unknown mysteries, but a phrase that finishes the puzzle of his and Martin Luther King, Jr’s life. When looking at a historical or inspirational person, you may notice they operated outside the usual bounds of society to achieve a particular purpose. Such is the case for McCandless and King. Although Chris McCandless and Martin Luther King, Jr both shared a fatal death, these men had many similarities and differences between how they reached success, encountered obstacles, and left an impact towards people's lives.

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail By Dr. Martin Luther King

    1821 Words  | 4 Pages

    The letter from Birmingham jail by Dr. Marin Luther King was written as a response of King to nine criticisms made against the Southern Christian leaders and King’s participation in demonstration in Birmingham. King handled many rhetorical devices to convince his opponents such as the white clergymen with his rights to protest, create tension for direct action and to achieve the racial justice. The devices fluctuate between Logos, Pathos and Ethos in a clever way to appeal to his audience and criticize them at the same time. King provided logical supports such as biblical figures, historical and philosophical references. In addition, he used verities of metaphors, allergy and poetic language. In my essay, I will point out some of the rhetorical devices and

    Read More

  • A Comparison of the Declaration of Independence and King's I Have A Dream

    1263 Words  | 3 Pages

    King, Martin Luther.  "I Have A Dream."  The McGraw-Hill Reader:  Issues Across the            Disciplines.  8th edition, Ed. Gilbert H. Muller.  New York: McGraw Hill, 2003.      309-312.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the 1960s inequality was a major problem in the United States. One advocate for making things right was Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King organized many marches, sit-ins, and boycotting events. But one of Dr. King’s greatest and memorable works has to be the “I Have a Dream” speech. During this speech Dr. King was conveying a message of freedom for all, to 250,000 civil right followers and many more people listening to the radio broadcast. To spread his message Dr. King uses rhetorical appeals like logos to appeal to the reason of his audience, ethos by his examples of practicing what he preached, and his metaphorical language and repetition.

    Read More

  • March On Washington Speech Analysis

    1169 Words  | 3 Pages

    Whenever Martin Luther King Junior, began to speak, he held everybody’s attention. This was the case in 1963 during the pinnacle of the Civil Rights Movement when Martin gave his career defining speech “I Have a Dream”. Over a quarter million people attended the protest, and the crowd varied in color as well as cause. A crowd of this size would certainly frighten most people; but Martin was not the type of man to be phased easily. Martin grew up on the racist streets of Atlanta, Georgia and faced much adversity in his life. Not even thirty-five Martin would give a speech that would shake an embroiled nation to its core. Martin Luther King Junior gave a speech to beautifully wove together the three appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos into one

    Read More

  • AP Essay

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although John Steinbeck and Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote on essentially different topics, they both employed similar methods to implant themselves into their readers’ brains. Each author took advantage of repetition’s ability to hammer an idea into the human conscious. Steinbeck repeated the beginning of his sentences, and emphasized his subject: the American population. MLK Jr. repeated entire sentences and phrases, instead emphasizing his points. Additionally the tone used by each of the authors affected how the audience received those points. Ultimately by manipulating repetition, and tone, they were able to realize their individual purposes in very much the same way.

    Read More

  • King’s Letter Considered a Classic Argument

    1268 Words  | 3 Pages

    In accordance to the TRACE elements needed in a rhetorical situation, all five are present. The text includes a letter type written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. explaining why he is in a Birmingham city jail and the injustices he sees in the state of Alabama. The targeted audience is the eight fellow clergymen whom he is replying to after being presented a letter by those clergymen. The audience also includes the general public like the whites and the blacks in the community. The author of the letter is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself, a Baptist minister who preached nonviolence and was a pivotal leader in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Dr. King was the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a vital group that led many affiliations to peaceful marches and sit-ins throughout the civil rights movement. The main motivation for this letter is Dr. King’s own view of the injustices apparent in the Negro community and the intended actions the community is taking. Some constraints Dr. King faces...

    Read More

  • The Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities” (Dr, king 10). Dr. King believed that one day African American will be treated fairly and also every citizen will be treated one another will love and respect. As a result of Dr. King action, there is no fear anymore toward one another. The most importantly, citizen children don’t have to ask their parents why white people don’t like color people. Dr. King is a very articulate person because he measures his words carefully and knows what he wants to say by expressing himself easily and confidently which makes the leaders understand him.

    Read More

  • Letter from Birmingham Jail Analysis

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his famous “A Letter from the Birmingham Jail” on April 16, 1963 while he was imprisoned in the Birmingham Jail for being involved in nonviolent protests against segregation. The letter is directed at eight white clergymen from Alabama who were very cynical and critical towards African Americans in one of their statements. Throughout the letter, King maintains an understanding yet persistent tone by arguing the points of the clergymen and providing answers to any counterarguments they may have. In the letter, King outlines the goals of his movement and says that he will fight racial inequality wherever it may be. Dr. King uses the appeal three main rhetorical devices – ethos, logos, and pathos – in order to firmly, yet politely, argue the clergymen on the injustices spoken of in their statement.

    Read More

  • Essay On Letter From Birmingham Jail

    660 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his letter, Martin Luther King is trying to persuade his readers to understand his action and point of view of an African-American living in this era. He did so all while replying to the public published statement and criticisms written to him by the eight Alabama clergymen. This illuminating work of art that King had created was filled with heightened terminology which was gratified by his precise framework. By King writing this response letter with such high dialect, it reflects off of his determined and highly educated mentality immensely. In this letter King directly tries to build a connection

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From A Birmingham Jail

    1485 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr., sparks emotion amongst the readers, through the use of pathos in attempt to create an emotional feel. His diction and vivid language makes this appeal successful. He writes on his scratch paper given to him in jail “I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say "wait" (Longager & Walker, 2011, p. 270). The phrase “I guess” conveys the irony and absurdity of his claim. “Stinging darts” is also powerful, and truly makes the audience feel sorrow for those facing racial segregation. His strong diction is also depicted through anaphora. The repetition of phrases and words such as “when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mother,” “when you have seen hate filled policemen curse” and “see tears welling up in her eyes” provide the reader with a sense of sadness. By emphasizing “you,” he forces the reader to put themselves in the position that he is in, and experience it with him. Using anaphora creates a sense of memorability and urgency, all while remaining in the pathos category (Longager & Walker, 2011, p.256). Strategically used repetition not only forces the reader to focus on an idea, but also assists in conveying his intended message. The logos appeal is also in effect here. He utilizes the logos appeal to argue a non-violent protest is a wise decision. He details the daily life of an African American man, using words such as

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King is able to effectively argue against criticisms through the use of passionate and calm tones, vivid metaphors, and biblical and historical allusions. King uses numerous biblical allusions to resonate with his clergymen audience and to make them realize that they were condemning a righteous movement. The vivid language in metaphors captures emotion and expands understanding. Mr. King was able to do anything to end the injustice in Birmingham and his commitment was shown in his tone.

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1447 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr. was a minister and a social activist. He was known as the man who led the Civil rights movement. He applied philosophy, religion, and laws in his arguments. He quotes the clergymen when they say his activities are “unwise and untimely” (King 411) The clergymen are pretty much saying King should have waited. He goes against that statement by saying, “Actually time is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively” (King 418). Ultimately King was responding to the clergymen’s letter and addressing the problem of segregation. King utilizes literary and rhetorical strategies in order to get his point across and he does it

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of "I Have A Dream" Speech By Martin Luther King Jr.

    814 Words  | 2 Pages

    From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial more than two score years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King electrified America with his momentous "I Have a Dream" speech. Aimed at the entire nation, King’s main purpose in this speech was to convince his audience to demand racial justice towards the mistreated African Americans and to stand up together for the rights afforded to all under the Constitution. To further convey this purpose more effectively, King cleverly makes use of the rhetorical devices — ethos, pathos and logos — using figurative language such as metaphors and repetition as well as various other techniques e.g. organization, parallel construction and choice of title.

    Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of What Is Your Life's Blueprint? '

Open Document