In Letter of Birmingham Jail MLK does just that. That direct action was the only choice for negation as they were victims of broken promises by the courts and given no alternative choice. "Letter from Birmingham Jail": Examples of Rhetorical Devices 4.2 (5 reviews) logos Click the card to flip "We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights." Click the card to flip 1 / 32 Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by aedwards001 Teacher Terms in this set (32) logos It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored (King 274). He wrote this letter from his jail cell after him and several of his associates were arrested as they nonviolently protested segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. We have some eighty-five affiliated organizations across the south, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (King 273). 273284.. The clergy expresses unease at Kings willingness to break laws with his nonviolent protests. In Kings letter, you will notice that the writer sometimes draws parallels between his actions as a civil rights activist and the actions of religious or historical figures whochanged society. Showing that he takes the cultural ideas of him and his followers very seriously and is there to fight for them. After Martin Luther King looked over the clergymens unjust propositions he efficiently constructed his counter argument as he directly started his letter my dear fellow clergymen. On the surface level, King is telling a thorough story, but at a deeper glance his argument contains advanced diction and rhetoric that made his letter credible, logical, and emotional. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling that outlawed segregation in public schools was disobeyed. Hi! aimed at creating associations for the readers and to add further emphasis to the writers views. Why sit ins, marches and so forth? He uses such intense words in this short sentence that really just leaves a picture in your mind. As King is just following the path of his ministerial ancestors. As he closes the letter by saying Let us hope in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty (King 284). Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. One of the statements made by the clergymen was that they warmly commended the Birmingham police for keeping order and preventing violence. One of these partnerships includes the esteemed Christian Movement for Human Rights. He is also telling them this needs to be stopped and can be with the next generation. Letter from Birmingham Jail, by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Logical Fallacies in Letter from Birmingham Jail, Policing and Community Relations in America, Rhetorical Analysis of The Letter of Birmingham Jail, A Rhetorical Analysis of the Letter from Birmingham Jail and Malala Yousafzais Speech, Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr, What does Kings Speech i have a Dream Mean. He would simply be regarded as an unreliable activist. He continues these connections all throughout his letter to further justify his actions, stating if these large political figures have done it in the past to voice their opinion and be heard than whats any different than him doing the same. King references a dozen historical figures from Abraham Lincoln, to Paul of Tarsus, Socrates, to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and many more. This passage in the letter shows the clergymen the two different sides. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! King utilizes several facts and statistics throughout his letter. One of his biggest issues was that the leadership of the church claimed to be in his corner, yet shrugged their shoulders at every turn of the cause and would refuse to stand with him when things did not seem to be going smoothly. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. He apologizes for not being able to hold his silence, and be patient in his fight. Logos is all about making sense. King makes use of ethos in his writing, which is an appeal to ethics; this establishes a certain level of credibility for him. Showing that even if he remained unbiased that the black community would have acted regardless, and that the nonviolent action could very well have turned violent without the help of his organization. He then continues to address them in his introduction with respect and a cordial tone. King organized the letter by stating each critique from the white moderate and then explaining why direct action was justified. King made use of ethos, pathos, and logos in his letter; three powerful rhetorical devices that make various appeals to the target audience. The analogies are withSocrates, Jesus, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson. In other words, King borrows from the ethos of these figures to gain credibility and legitimacy in front of his readers. These references are even more relevant because the letter is a reply to criticism coming from clergymen. Don't know where to start? Showing that his plan for direct action is not unwise and supposed to be untimely as they have waited to long for change and now its time to force negotiation. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. He recognized that this was an effective way to bring further into the light the atrocities of racism and segregation. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/letter-from-birmingham-jail-rhetorical-analysis/. In another example, the writer associates himself with prophe. Showing the readers that the cops were actually the violent ones in the nonviolent protest that was going on, theyre the ones causing the harm instead of preventing it. King uses logos as a means to pick apart the flaws of the clergys concerns and show them just how warranted his actions are. King plays to the fact that it does not make sense to tell him to obey the law when the law was broken for an unjust cause; a cause in which he is fighting against. He was a man that is recognized all over as a leader for influencing the desegregation of the southern United States. Each one of the arguments put onward by the clergymen MLK put down and refuted with facts that were undeniable. As a member of PrimeStudyGuides.com, you get access to all of the content. He does this by describing just and unjust laws from multiple different angles, in ways the reader could relate to. After stating the racial injustices that have been going on for too long he continues to logically reply to the question asked Why direct action? The text shown above is just an extract. The text includes numerous instances when the writer uses descriptive and metaphorical language to make his arguments more dynamic and appealing. All of these men went down in history as extraordinary individuals. King mentions several disappointments over the course of his letter. The eight clergy men called his present activity unwise and untimely and stated that racial matters should be properly pursued in the courts and not the streets. Who is the audience? The "letter of Birmingham Jail" was written by Martin Luther King on April 16, 1963. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. He Compares his fight for freedom with the Apostle Paul and the prophets fight for the gospel of Jesus Christ. This puts it in perspective making it hard for the reader to refute. Activity Overview When teaching speeches and letters, it's helpful to refresh or introduce students to literary elements that enhance rhetorical strategies. King cites Amos, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Abraham Lincoln, and even Thomas Jefferson as examples of people who also had what were considered extremist views and practices. He went on to say that extremists in history have had a profound impact on many societies across the world. He uses logos to first bring forward the racial injustices that engulf Birmingham stating, Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. This aspect of Kings argument actually forced them to evaluate the facts and state of the issue. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. For any subject. While this fight had been raging for nearly 10 years, the release in 1963 was shortly followed by the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Martin Luther Kings major claims in this letter are to bring forward the injustices that went on in Birmingham. He wrote this letter from his jail cell after him and several of his associates were arrested as they nonviolently protested segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation. He makes this statement to show he is not an outsider but presents himself as an insider, as he is the president of the conference. - Use specific language that is appropriate to the audience and topic (connect with audience) - Use correct grammar and syntax Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis. Martin Luther King then backs up his view of just and unjust laws with many political figures who set laws that were made to be broken for the rights of the people that faced injustices. For example, King mentions directly the prophets of the eighth century B.C. andthe Apostle Paul as religious examples that support the idea that Christians havea duty to promote justice wherever injustices are committed, and in this way, reject the criticism that his pres. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. King cited several examples of how blacks have had to endure pain for much too long. Hi! Letter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. He then addresses the clergymens anxiety over their willingness to break laws. This piece incorporated a multitude of different techniques, which King synthesized into an extremely advanced message for the white moderate. He says directly that he is not an outsider looking in. original papers. For example, Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Logical Fallacies in Letter from Birmingham Jail, The Effects that World War i and World War II had on Minority Groups in America, The Causes of Hysteria from the Salem Witch Trials, Letter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis, Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr, North or South: who Killed Reconstruction, King, Martin Luther. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. Isn't negotiation a better path? ; Some have asked: Why didn't you give the new city administration time to act? ; One may well ask: How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others? . If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. Pay the writer only for a finished, plagiarism-free essay that meets all your requirements. He said that he has watched his brothers and sisters be referred to as niggers and boys, be punched and kicked, lynched, burned, drowned, cursed, and brutalized. In order to get people to agree with him on just vs. unjust laws he needs to do more than appeal to the readers pathos and ethos. Various rhetorical questions help the writer introduces new topics he addresses in reply to criticism from white clergymen: You may well ask: Why direct action? Even in closing, King says that his letter would have been much easier to compose, had he not been thrown in jail for peacefully protesting for the rights of people who he considers to be family. The best example of this appeal is when King explains the urgency behind his cause. Throughout his letter he brings forward the injustices of just vs. unjust laws used by the segregator and pushed upon the segregated. Kimberly Bautista. For any subject. Logically, the clergy could not refute the fact that there had been little to no change for the black community (members of their own community). He is informed about the crisis going on in Birmingham as he has a chapter in their state and was invited there to help fight the discrimination. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. King's primary rhetorical technique in "A Letter from Birmingham Jail," a characteristic of much of his writing, is the highly creative use of metaphorical language to make an abstract. He backs up each of the clergymens arguments with logical evidence to his stand point on the topic. He continues to go on and on about the things they go through every day. This appeals to ethos as it validates kings quality educational background. MLK wants to bring about a change to what the world sees of the Civil Rights movement. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. Therefore, tugging at the heartstrings was an extremely powerful way to send a message. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. His perspective was that of a disappointed, black man in America, who had been subjected to all sorts of racial discrimination and segregation through the span of his life. Ethos Convinces the audience that the speaker will be worth listening to and is a credible source. Hyperbole, alliteration tongue twisted Alliteration, Ethos (author's experience) speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old Pathos (children= innocence) see tears welling up in her eyes Diction, pathos, metaphor "ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky" Diction, Personal Attack n*gger, boy, John Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. MLK then establishes his credibility by saying, I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. MLK also includes many metaphors in the letter to create that image in the readers mind and to make important arguments. An allusion is an indirect reference to people, events, literature, etc. Another example of this appeal is when King is arguing the paradoxical nature of breaking laws. The pathos appeal was prevalent in Kings letter from beginning to end. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay. King used many rhetorical devices in his writing, from repetition, allusion and imagery, all the way to ethos, logos, and pathos. Just expressing his background as a minister goes towards the development of ethos. As King states that just laws should be followed, and unjust laws should be openly disobeyed. Perhaps the most effective rhetorical device that King uses is pathos. Not only does he describe the brutality given by the cops he also describes the injustices done by the people and the community. (2021, Jun 07). Rhetorical Devices- Letter from Birmingham Jail June 12, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. He used numerous examples of sad and heart aching pathos, he did it to get his point across, making the white moderates feel what it was like to live in the life of a colored person. He talked about how black people have waited over 340 years to gain the same rights as white Americans. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/rhetorical-analysis-of-the-letter-of-birmingham-jail/. How? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. King was in Birmingham Jail when he composed this response. King made use of ethos, pathos, and logos in his letter; three powerful rhetorical devices that make various appeals to the target audience. 270 students ordered this very topic and got A graphic organizer of MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" identifying rhetorical devices and how the rhetorical device establishes ethos, pathos, and logos. Martin Luther King also establishes ethos throughout his letter by outlining his own culture of religious ancestors and deliberating his own church leadership. An example of metaphor is when the writer associates destiny with a piece of clothing that can be put on and shared: We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of . Kings culmination of ethos, pathos, and logos plays a large part in why his Letter from Birmingham was so effective and so well received by his society, and continues to be a piece that future societies are able to learn from. His idea was that nobody ever got anywhere by waiting for change to come to them.
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