Rhetorical Analysis Of Dr. Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

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One of the most influential men to ever step foot in our great nation led the civil rights movement with a peaceful approach. The Civil Rights Movement consisted of African American’s wanting the equal rights which they deserved. Therefore, on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the greatest speeches ever on American soil, in front of the Lincoln Memorial with over 200,000 people in attendance after the March on Washington. The use of the two rhetorical devices, anaphora and allusion, are effective in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech because it helped to bring the speech alive. Also, it inspired not only the two-hundred-thousand people in the crowd, but also the millions of people watching on television. Lastly, …show more content…

An allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. Allusions were used to relate back to two notable topics. First, American history in general, and secondly, the Christian Bible. He used these in order to help the crowd get into the speech by stating things that meant something to the people. In paragraph two, King says, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” King is referring back to a document issued by Abraham Lincoln that freed the slaves. Also, Dr. King also referred to one of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches, called the Gettysburg Address. The Gettysburg Address is a speech that President Lincoln gave announcing that all men are equal, black or white. But, 100 years after the Gettysburg Address was given and the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, African Americans were still not as equal and free as the white man. They had been treated abominably, and without respect for the last 100 years which is the complete opposite of what Abraham Lincoln intended to happen. He was one of America’s greatest presidents, who freed African Americans by creating and signing the Emancipation Proclamation. Also, Dr. King used what he thought people knew about Abraham Lincoln in order for the crowd to understand his point and furthermore be influenced by his speech. Another reference to American history used by King was found in paragraph

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