What Are Some Literary Devices In The I Have A Dream Speech?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In “I Have a Dream”, Martin Luther King Jr. extensively uses

repetitions, metaphors, and allusions

. Other rhetorical devices

Which rhetorical device is used in Dr Martin Luther King’s speech I have a dream I have a dream that Sunday this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning its creed?

In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. makes effective use of

repetition

as a rhetorical device, when he repeats the phrase, “I have a dream”: And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

What are some metaphors in the I Have a Dream speech?

Metaphor, a common figure of speech, is a comparison of one thing with another:

happiness is a sunny day, loneliness is a locked door, coziness is a cat on your lap

. This is probably one of Martin Luther King’s favorite rhetorical devices.

What is an example of hyperbole in the I Have a Dream speech?


Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi

. We could call this example hyperbole, because King is using lots of “alls” and “every”s. But this hyperbole belies a seriousness; he believes that true justice will only come when every person believes in freedom for all.

What literary devices did you notice in King’s speech?


Metaphor, Repetition, and Parallelism

appear throughout Dr. King’s speech. metaphor of a bad check to explain that the U.S. government failed in its obligation to its African-American citizens.

What are some examples of parallelism in the I Have a Dream Speech?

Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one very famous example of parallel structure:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed

: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

What is an example of ethos in the I Have a Dream Speech?

ETHOS: King started his speech with the lines, “

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation

.” King’s initial words are a call for unity and to take a united stand against discrimination. This adds ethical appeal to his speech.

What is an example of personification in the I Have a Dream Speech?

What is an example of personification in the I Have a Dream Speech? An example of personification in Martin Luther King’s speech is,

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed.”

Personification gives human qualities to something that is not human.

What are some allusions in the I Have a Dream Speech?

Gettysburg Address

Martin Luther King, Jr. used the phrase “

Five score years ago…

” in his “I Have a Dream” speech. This is a reference to President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, which originally began with “Four score and seven years ago…” As you can see, King’s phrasing is a subtle reference, hence an allusion!

Is the I Have a Dream Speech literature?

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech was a life-affirming call to all people to live together in love. But it was something else too: a literary masterpiece. King taught us a lot about peace and understanding, but we at Writer’s Relief believe he also has a lot to teach writers about rhetoric.

What is a simile in the I have a dream Speech?

Two examples of alliteration in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech are “capital to cash a check” and “dark and desolate,” while two similes are “

justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream

.” Two metaphors are “a lonely island of poverty” and “the heat of injustice.” Lastly, two …

What is an example of imagery in the I have a dream Speech?

King uses imagery such as “until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream” and “

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair

,” it helps to communicate the natural condition of Civil Rights, something that links it to a larger configuration.

What are the 5 kinds of stylized language?

  • Metaphors and Similes. …
  • Alliteration. …
  • Antithesis. …
  • Parallel Structure and Language. …
  • Personalized Language.

What is literary devices in a story?

Literary devices are

specific techniques that allow a writer to convey a deeper meaning that goes beyond what’s on the page

. Literary devices work alongside plot and characters to elevate a story and prompt reflection on life, society, and what it means to be human.

What is King’s message?

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial honors a man of conscience; the freedom movement of which he was a beacon; and his message of

freedom, equality, justice and love

. It is the first on the National Mall devoted, not to a United States President or war hero, but a citizen activist for civil rights and peace. Dr.

What is the purpose of the I Have a Dream Speech?

“I Have a Dream” is a public speech that was delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister, Martin Luther King Jr., during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In the speech, King called

for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States

.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.