Rhetorical Analysis Of Kennedy's Inaugural Address

Kennedy’s inaugural address artfully combines stylistic devices and figurative language to create a speech rich with meaning, both on the surface and at deeper levels. Kennedy’s diction serves to let his words reach a variety of people. He used abstract words so his speech would appeal and connect with more people, as everyone’s definition of freedom and sacrifice are different. This allowed his speech to have a greater impact on a larger number of people. He then used rhetorical tropes and more cliche phrases such as “bonds of mass misery” and “chains of poverty”, metaphors like “those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger and ended up inside”, and oxymorons like “this peaceful revolution” to advertise America’s freedom and power. He uses these words and phrases in a patriotic manner, adding to his positive tone and the pride he feels for America, while also showing the beliefs he has for America’s future. This furthers the patriotic mood of the speech, inspiring its listeners to make a difference in their country. …show more content…
His use of certain more archaic words, such as forebears and beachhead, provide a bridge between older Americans and younger ones, as the language of those who are older still remain in a speech with younger phrases. In the same manner, the juxtaposition of phrases such as “We are the heirs of that first revolution what the world go forth... That the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century” and personification in “with history the final judge of our deed” he connects the America of the present to the America of the past, reminding citizens today how far they’ve come, in an attempt to show why they must continue to go farther. This furthers his ethos as a speaker, as he is gaining relevancy and credibility through his reference and reminder of the