Essay about Use of Rhetorical Devices in Letter from...

Letter From Birmingham Jail In Kings essay, Letter From Birmingham Jail, King brilliantly employs the use of several rhetorical strategies that are pivotal in successfully influencing critics of his philosophical views on civil disobedience. Kings eloquent appeal to the logical, emotional, and most notably, moral and spiritual side of his audience, serves to make Letter From Birmingham Jail one of the most moving and persuasive literary pieces of the 20th century. In Birmingham, Ala., in the spring of 1963, Kings campaign to end segregation at lunch counters and segregated hiring practices drew nationwide attention when police turned attacks dogs and fire hoses on peaceful demonstrators. King was jailed along with†¦show more content†¦He deduces the fact that the white moderate does not seem to recognize the gravity of their non-action. King further declares that laws are established to promote justice and with their current amoral application, civil resistance to those segregated laws by blacks is justified and inevitable. King continues he logical argument when he exhorts the reader to analyze the quote of an elderly black woman who comments, My feets is tired but my soul is at rest (168). King acknowledges that although her statement is grammatical incorrect, and her lack of education apparent, she is still cognizant of the magnitude of injustice suffered by Blacks under segregation. King understands that to communicate such a controversial position effectively; logic alone will not be sufficient. To reach even deeper into the psyche of his reader King also attempts to appeal to the readers emotional side. By presenting vivid details to describe the plight of himself and other Blacks, King offers the opportunity for us to vicariously experience the heartbreaking emotions in the daily lives of African Americans under the laws of segregation. These poignantShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.976 Words   |  4 PagesIn all of the speeches, one way or another, Dr. King used several different rhetorical devices in order to defend his own actions. In specific, two of his speeches, â€Å"I have a Dream† and â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† Dr. King used the rhetorical devices of anaphora, allusion, and diction to relay his thoughts of what is right, and also as a way to build a common ground with his audience. Though the rhetorical devices are shared between the two speeches, there are also several differences. TheRead MoreAn Analysis of Martin Luther King Jrs Letter from Birmingham Jail776 Words   |  3 PagesEssay analysis Letter from Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr (African Studies Center, 2013). :Letter from Birmingham Jail is a powerful piece of writing that graces the writings by Martin Luther. Part of the power lies in the use of rhetorical devices such as ethos, logos, and pathos in the letter. Luther used these stylistic devices and literary approaches to express his message, intention and express the mood of the letter making a masterpiece like no other letters before. OneRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail812 Words   |  4 Pagesnonviolent resistance; however, during a protest in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. King was thrown into jail. While in his jail cell, Dr. King wrote a letter to clergymen from the Birmingham jail claiming his stance on peaceful confrontation on defending African American’s human rights. In his letter, Dr. King uses rhetorical devices to strengthen his argument in his letter to the clergymen. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†, Dr. King uses biblical allusions, antithesis and questions toRead MoreMartin Luther King Letter Rhetorical Analysis710 Words   |  3 PagesIn a letter by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader uses various rhetorical devices to justify his actions for the nonviolent actions. His primary audience throughout the letter was to the clergymen who made accusations against Dr. King. He justifies his cause and argues the necessity of immediate action using rhetorical appeals such as ethos, pathos and logos. By using these various devices, Dr. King can gain the support needed for the Civil War Movement from his audience. 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During his confinement in a Birmingham jail, King wrote Letter from a Birmingham Jail to address most of the clergymen s concerns about his protest. In his letter, King emphasized why his actions were not unwise or untimely and explained that now was the perfect moment to act. His studies and sermonsRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail1309 Words   |  6 Pagespersuasive piece results from total awareness of available rhetorical devices as well as inspiration and determination. Over the course of â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†, the author Martin Luther King Jr., demonstrates that he can effectively employ the use of rhetoric elements. The rhetorical strategy and context are two vital literary elements within a piece of writing that can be used to make a strong argument while appealing to the audience. King uses a combination of rhetorical techniques to rebutRead MoreEffective Use of Language in Martin Luther Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail1387 Words   |  6 PagesLuther King wrote a letter from Birmingham jail that was addressed to the eight leaders of the white Church of the South, the â€Å"white moderates†. Dr. King’s letter talks about how unfair the white America ns were towards the black community, and how true civil rights could never be achieved. Throughout his letter, King talks about how unfair the white Americans were towards the black nation, he talks about the disrespect, unfair and unjust treatment the black community had received from the white AmericansRead MoreMartin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis1154 Words   |  5 PagesMuch of argumentative writing centers around rhetoric, the art of persuasion. Writers use certain rhetorical devices to engage and persuade their readers. Generally, we think of persuasion in terms of three rhetorical appeals. Aristotle first categorized these appeals based on logic (logos), ethics (ethos), and emotion (pathos). Most strong arguments have a balance of all three appeasl, although logos has proven to be more essential than the other two for a valid argument. In the same way theseRead MoreDr. King s Letter From Birmingham Jail1667 Words   |  7 Pagesnoted works called the â€Å"I have a Dream† speech and â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† to the public. These tw o pieces, quickly following each other in succession, were literary works of Dr. King devoted to the cause of racial equality and used eclectic devices and appeals to achieve that goal. King’s purpose bolstered in his â€Å"Letter† and â€Å"Dream† speech by key rhetorical devices are supported by audience oriented diction and appeals. King’s rhetorical devices can be similarly and differently used through their