We move a bit into persuasive speech making next.
We’ll start with these rhetorical terms. Look them up and practice a bit by making an example.
Then, we’ll ask each small group to take 2 terms and create small posters to demonstrate how the device is used. Make it pretty.
Next, let’s listen to JFK’s Inaugural Address. Please answer these questions in a blog post.
- In JFK’s speech, why are so many words abstract? how do words like freedom, poverty, devotion, loyalty, and sacrifice set the tone of the speech?
- Find examples of formal rhetorical tropes such as metaphor and personification.
- Does Kennedy use any figures of speech that might be considered clichés? Which? Is there a pattern?
- More than 20 sentences are complex sentences–sentences that contain a subordinate clause? How do these sentences convey hidden energy?
- Why is the dominance of declarative sentences appropriate in an inaugural address?
- Find examples of anaphora and zeuegma. Explain their use.
- Quote 3 examples of parallelism. Explain their use for Kennedy’s purpose.
- Kennedy uses both hortative sentences (”Let us” “Let both sides”) and imperative sentences (”Ask” or “Ask not”). Explain the difference and why he starts with one and ends with the other.
Then, whew!…Imagine if you were suddenly, by some quirk of fate and the space/time continuum going to be asked to write the inaugural address for the next President. Write 2-3 paragraphs that might be appropriate using all you’ve learned about rhetoric and figurative language.
HW: Listen to and read Reagan’s Remarks on the Space Shuttle Challenger’s destruction and comment on how Reagan uses rhetorical strategies and for what purpose. 200-300 words.
1 comment so far ↓
Shaina Ives AP Lang P1
Oct 30, 2008
1) Many of the words that JFK uses in his inagural address tend to be vague as he is often hinting at topics that are really controversial like the previous administration and the growing threat of communism. However he uses words like loyalty, devotion, and freedom to appeal to the pride of the US people and get them to agree with him that what the government would be doing is right.
The difference between hortative and imperatives sentences is that though they are the same format they are inclusive and exclusive. Hortative is more of a form that is meant to make the speaker close to the audience, like that it is a mutual challenge. While imperative sentences is the speaker trying to inspire the audience to do something that he/she wants. Kennedy starts with hortative as he is trying to first get the audience warmed up to him then ends with imperatives as he wants the people to be inspired and follow and help him in his actions.
2) In JFK’s 9th and 10th paragraphs when he is referencing Communist Russia and the new democratic Central America he is using a metaphors as he never directly talks about the US action in either of the places. Thus by not directly referencing it, the controversial part of the relationships that the US had with those two areas is toned down by him not referring to it directly.
3) He uses the rhetorical device of anadiplosis which is funny as many presidents use this as it help emphises a point and make it seem like two things are related to one another when they are not really.
4) Yes they are. These sentences have hidden energy as the author inspires the audience by using key words and phrases that are meant to spark pride, expecially in an American audience. Furthermore he uses words and ideas that not just American but other cultures can relate to.
5) Declarative sentences are important in a inagural address because it makes it seem like the person is in command and sure of himself. This idea is very important as without having this attitude it would be hard for the public to have confidence in the person that they just elected. This is really important as the ingaural address is like the handshake of the new presedent as it will dictate how people view him for his term.
6) Kennedy uses anaphora in pharagraphs 15 through 18 where he starts each pharagraph with, “Let both sides…”. It is key in his speech as he is able to draw attention to what he is saying and his message that he is trying to convey. He also uses Zeuegma at the end of his speech in paragraph 20 where he says “Nor will it be…” It is a common form of Zeuegma but it is yet again very effetive use of using the same verb over and over again.
7) He use parallelism in his lines of “To those peoples in the huts and villages…” as weel as “To our sister republics south of our boarder…” These are key examples aof parallelism as he talks about things that are issues that the US was dealing with at the time though he is being wise and not mentioning it directly.
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