The speech I Have A Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. uses literary devices, allusion and diction of unity, and rhetorical devices, ethos and logos, to motivate and rally the people across America to join the civil rights movement. This speech was given at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. Throughout the speech, Dr. King makes references to multiple documents throughout history. One of the allusions was when Dr. King says “...a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves” (2). In this quote Dr. King is referring to the Emancipation Proclamation, which was a speech that freed the slaves in America. The speech was a vital event in the civil rights movement. Dr. King uses this allusion to connect with the audience. Since
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Throughout the speech, Dr. King uses words and phrases such as “we” and“together” (27). These phrases have a connotation of unity and togetherness, and they are used in order to express the main ideas of the civil rights movement. The main idea of the civil rights movement is to gain equality for African Americans. The only way that this could be achieved is if the people of America unite and express their feelings to the leaders of America. If they work together, then their goals could be achieved. Dr. King also uses familial diction to communicate the same ideas. Dr. King describes his views of the future by using the phrases “sisters and brothers” and “brotherhood” (23, 27). The use of familial diction connects to the families of America and portrays the goal of the civil rights movement. According to parents, all of the children in a family are equal because the parents do not pick favorites. This diction is used to express how Whites, African Americans, and all other races can be considered siblings while the metaphorical parents are America. If they are all siblings, then all of them are equal because their parents don’t pick favorites. A pathos appeal is created by the diction used because people usually have an emotional connection with their family, either good or bad, and this will
Throughout the speech, Dr. King uses words and phrases such as “we” and“together” (27). These phrases have a connotation of unity and togetherness, and they are used in order to express the main ideas of the civil rights movement. The main idea of the civil rights movement is to gain equality for African Americans. The only way that this could be achieved is if the people of America unite and express their feelings to the leaders of America. If they work together, then their goals could be achieved. Dr. King also uses familial diction to communicate the same ideas. Dr. King describes his views of the future by using the phrases “sisters and brothers” and “brotherhood” (23, 27). The use of familial diction connects to the families of America and portrays the goal of the civil rights movement. According to parents, all of the children in a family are equal because the parents do not pick favorites. This diction is used to express how Whites, African Americans, and all other races can be considered siblings while the metaphorical parents are America. If they are all siblings, then all of them are equal because their parents don’t pick favorites. A pathos appeal is created by the diction used because people usually have an emotional connection with their family, either good or bad, and this will