When the clergy said that Kings actions were untimely, he describes the urgency of the situation. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts. MLK doesnt take time to justify these two groups of their rights and wrongs, but rather backs them up with facts that result in their actions. This appeals to ethos as it validates kings quality educational background. 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. King made use of ethos, pathos, and logos in his letter; three powerful rhetorical devices that make various appeals to the target audience. - Use specific language that is appropriate to the audience and topic (connect with audience) - Use correct grammar and syntax March 23, 2023. He says directly that he is not an outsider looking in. 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 . King cited several examples of how blacks have had to endure pain for much too long. 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 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. 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). The most remarkable takeaway from this letter is Kings overall tone he keeps throughout as he could have approached his audience multiple different ways. King used many rhetorical devices in his writing, from repetition, allusion and imagery, all the way to ethos, logos, and pathos. Who is the audience? It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored (King 274). The Letter of Birmingham Jail. Discovering Arguments: An, Introduction to Critical Thinking and Writing, with Readings, by Dean Memering and William Palmer, Prentice Hall, 2005, pp. Kimberly Bautista. This passage in the letter shows the clergymen the two different sides. His idea was that nobody ever got anywhere by waiting for change to come to them. (2021, Jun 07). The pathos appeal was prevalent in Kings letter from beginning to end. How? The text shown above is just an extract. I'm Amy, The clergy also asserted that King and his constituents were extreme. The letter of Birmingham Jail was written by Martin Luther King on April 16, 1963. An allusion is an indirect reference to people, events, literature, etc. Martin Luther Kings major claims in this letter are to bring forward the injustices that went on in Birmingham. 467 students ordered this very topic and got Kings use of rhetorical appeal in the letter played an enormous role in the shift from a segregated America, to the kind of America that King dreamt it would become.. King started off by addressing the reason why he was in jail. Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis. King also uses a strong sense of logos when describing the two sides of the community one is a force of complacency, made up in part of negros who, as a result of long years of oppression, that have adjusted to segregation (King 279), and The other force is bitterness and hatred, and it comes perilously close to advocating violence (King 279). Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. King utilizes several facts and statistics throughout his letter. Martin Luther King Jr. was a well known clergyman, turned affluent civil rights activists. The anaphora If you were to is meant to inspire his readers to emp. Letter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. However, establishing this credibility allows King to reach his target audience. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. your personal assistant! Repetitions help the writer give structure to his arguments and highlight important aspects. The unfairness as they are seen as extremists, the activism of taking extreme measures, for their nonviolent direct-action protest just because they want the same freedom as whites. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. (2021, Apr 23). He made the reader sympathize with what the black people were going through on a day to day basis. By doing this he validates why his nonviolent protest is necessary for growth and to overcome the prejudices that were happening in Birmingham. original papers. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! King uses this appeal so that the audience understands that he knows what he is talking about. 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. Rhetorical Devices- Letter from Birmingham Jail June 12, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. MLK also includes many metaphors in the letter to create that image in the readers mind and to make important arguments. After reading "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", ask your students to do a scavenger hunt using the storyboard creator. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. 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). This is an appeal to the emotions of the reader. Unlock effective presentation skills (tips and best practices) March 2, 2023. He pulls on the audiences emotions making them more likely to side with himself rather than the clergy men. These are the hard, brutal facts of the case (King 274). This, and his use of appeals made his letter all the more credible. He refutes each one of the clergymens statements, breaking it down and tearing it apart by intertwining the use of logos, pathos, and ethos. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. 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. King organized the letter by stating each critique from the white moderate and then explaining why direct action was justified. Each one of the arguments put onward by the clergymen MLK put down and refuted with facts that were undeniable. The clergy expresses unease at Kings willingness to break laws with his nonviolent protests. This aspect of Kings argument actually forced them to evaluate the facts and state of the issue. Don't know where to start? Sun Dec 02 2012. MLK wants to bring about a change to what the world sees of the Civil Rights movement. Hi! He compares the social situation with an elegy and the potential future to a creative psalm; racial injustice to quicksand, and the ultimate goal as a solid rock. King uses this truth to appeal to the readers emotions. "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 He would simply be regarded as an unreliable activist. Don't know where to start? He Compares his fight for freedom with the Apostle Paul and the prophets fight for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rhetorical Analysis of The Letter of Birmingham Jail, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. King was in Birmingham Jail when he composed this response. 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? To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay. He then continues to address them in his introduction with respect and a cordial tone. Perhaps the most effective rhetorical device that King uses is pathos. In other words, King borrows from the ethos of these figures to gain credibility and legitimacy in front of his readers. Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and well deliver the highest-quality essay! 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. Pay the writer only for a finished, plagiarism-free essay that meets all your requirements. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. While this fight had been raging for nearly 10 years, the release in 1963 was shortly followed by the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Martian Luther King was also good at incorporating strong pathos into his letter. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. 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. Ethos is a useful technique in developing trustworthiness in a writer, but King uses logos as well. Martin Luther King first starts off his letter by using a strong ethos appeal, by establishing his credibility to the clergy men after they referenced him as an outsider coming in. He first addresses them by saying, My Dear Fellow Clergymen. By saying this MLK is considering him as one of them showing that he is no different and deserves the same respect as they would want to be given. In Letter from Birmingham Jail, King typically uses repetition in the form of anaphora repeating the same word(s) atthe beginning of consecutive clauses. Rhetorical Devices used in "Letter from Birmingham Jail" BY: Vitoria Domingues What is Ethos? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. King had to use his platform to set it straight as there were only newspapers at the time to capture the major brutalitys if they were lucky. If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling that outlawed segregation in public schools was disobeyed. 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 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. He backs up each of the clergymens arguments with logical evidence to his stand point on the topic. In closing, he expresses his hope for a desegregated future of brotherhood and love. Only members can read the full content. Kings most memorable, most effective arguments were those that relied on taking a deep look at inner human emotion. Just expressing his background as a minister goes towards the development of ethos. 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. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! He explained how black Americans have waited over 300 years to acquire basic constitutional rights. King says having to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she cant go to the public amusement park, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told the fun town is closed to color children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness towards white people (King 275). Not only did he bring those injustices forward, but his letter was the stepping stone for the civil rights movement of the 1960s, as justice was finally approaching. 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. He uses such intense words in this short sentence that really just leaves a picture in your mind. The "letter of Birmingham Jail" was written by Martin Luther King on April 16, 1963. These themes of injustice were the push for his plan of direct action as he states and supports each theme with clear and factual evidence. Logos is all about making sense. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Lastly, he argues that it doesnt matter how admirable the police are when they are maintaining the immoral end of racial injustice. King references a dozen historical figures from Abraham Lincoln, to Paul of Tarsus, Socrates, to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and many more. 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. Throughout his letter he brings forward the injustices of just vs. unjust laws used by the segregator and pushed upon the segregated. 270 students ordered this very topic and got Quick action is typically a product of this appeal, which makes it the perfect secret weapon for Kings letter. King uses logos as a means to pick apart the flaws of the clergys concerns and show them just how warranted his actions are. He analyzed his opponents statements put forth then picks it apart backing up each little part with his collection of facts. 273284.. Kings target audience was the white moderate but at the same time, his letter was renowned nationwide. This piece incorporated a multitude of different techniques, which King synthesized into an extremely advanced message for the white moderate. King kept a serious but sincere voice getting straight to the point, but also persuading his audience. Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. Not trying to fight or disrespect them as he refers to them as men of genuine good will and that your criticism is sincerely set forth (King 273), but still speaks strongly upon his side of the statements that were made. 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? He does this by describing just and unjust laws from multiple different angles, in ways the reader could relate to. 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. Blog. 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. These references are even more relevant because the letter is a reply to criticism coming from clergymen. King also uses serious logical arguments throughout his letter as well, his letter states the facts of the situation going on in front of them in a way the clergymen failed to do. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/letter-from-birmingham-jail-rhetorical-analysis/. 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. As King states that just laws should be followed, and unjust laws should be openly disobeyed. The time was now, they were done waiting for change instead they were going to make it happen on their own terms by creating tension that would force them to confront the issue. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. 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. MLK wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail in response to an essay written by white clergymen. 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. 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. That direct action was the only choice for negation as they were victims of broken promises by the courts and given no alternative choice. For any subject. King does this by opening his letter with his accomplishments such as being the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which had 85 affiliate organizations all over the south. 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. Kings message would not be well received if he did not have his background. He apologizes for not being able to hold his silence, and be patient in his fight. 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. Nevertheless, he was also a reverend, who was very patient, and well versed in the philosophy and execution of civil disobedience. Some may say Martian Luther King could persuade anyone and anything, by the choice of his words and how he made them flow together. original papers. This went to his point of how patience was no longer possible and that was the reason why his actions may have been misconstrued as untimely. Martin Luther King also establishes ethos throughout his letter by outlining his own culture of religious ancestors and deliberating his own church leadership. 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. In another example, the writer associates himself with prophe. He went on to say that extremists in history have had a profound impact on many societies across the world. This puts it in perspective making it hard for the reader to refute. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. 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? . This letter is about ending indifference toward the subject of discrimination. MLK says I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes (King 283). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/rhetorical-analysis-of-the-letter-of-birmingham-jail/. King expressed a degree of disappointment at being considered an extremist when his actions were nonviolent. Hi! Logos is the appeal that refers to logic and facts. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. His hope was that people would feel not just one emotion, but a plethora of emotions: sadness, anger, remorse, love, regret, empathy, etc.
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