Critical Analysis of I Have Dream - 838 Words

Martin Luther King s I Have a Dream: Critical Thinking Analysis Charles Briscoe PRST 3301 16 October 2012 In Martin Luther King Jr. s seminal 1963 speech I Have a Dream, King uses a number of critical thinking processes in order to present his argument. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, King delivered a speech that is remembered now as one of the most significant pieces of oratory in the 20th century. His call was for blacks and whites to come together, for blacks to be granted greater freedoms and for America to become a nation of equals. Not only was the speech thought-provoking and emotional, but King s points were excellently handled and deftly conveyed through his use of†¦show more content†¦In this way, King lays a groundwork that implies that, if you disagree with civil rights, you disagree with the way our nation was founded. Placing that onus on the listener is a strong motivator to get them to change their opinion. King is extremely emotive in his speech, and uses incredibly descriptive and poetic phrasing to demonstrate the eloquence of his argument. His use of words like Now and today imply a great need for immediate action regarding civil rights; the fact that he is so well-spoken is intentionally utilized in the speech to lend credence to his words. Given the stereotype at the time that blacks were unintelligent and uneducated, King s responsibility to show the capabilities of black rhetoric was great. King, as a religious man, brings spirituality into the speech itself, but not in a self-aggrandizing way; he merely states that racial justice should be done as it is according to God s will. King s use of repetition (anaphora) is one of his greatest strengths in the speech; apart from the aforementioned I have a dream, he also finishes his speech with the repetitive device to let freedom ring in various locations around the country. This particular device influences because of its catchy repetition, as well as its identifier of disparate locations that are still, undeniably America. This also ha mmers home the metaphor that we, as aShow MoreRelatedCritical Analysis Of Martin Luther Kings I Have A Dream775 Words   |  4 PagesThis critical evaluation essay will be on Martin Luther King’s speech â€Å"I Have a Dream†. This speech was delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on 28 August 1963. This march was initially organized to focus on the economy, but as the date grew near, the focus shifted to social issues in the country. This march was attended by more than two hundred thousand people, to include the many actors, musicians, and the civil rights leaders. Martin Luther King said â€Å"I am happy toRead MoreThe Last Critic That Will Be Evaluated844 Words   |  4 Pagescritic that will be evaluated is Margaret B. Wilkerson. During the time that her critical study was composed, Margaret B. 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In Robert Frost’s lyrical poem, â€Å"Neither Out Far nor in Deep,† the tranquil scenery written out by Frost is overshadowed by the darker message that is told by the poem’s quite detached lyrical â€Å"I.† Through carefulRead MoreA Critical Comparison Of Marxist Theory And Merton’S Strain1530 Words   |  7 Pages  A Critical Comparison of Marxist Theory and Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance. Introduction: This particular work will consist of a critical theoretical review and a comparative analysis on two criminological theories. For the comparison I have chosen Marx’s theory of crime and Merton’s strain theory of deviance. My critical comparison analysis will emphasise the central concepts and arguments within both theories and how each theory explains crime. The analysis will then explore modern dayRead MoreCritical Reading Reflection1081 Words   |  5 Pageswriting, critical reading, and discussion skills have developed. As I am challenged in all the previous sections mentioned I, am forced to further my skills in order to acquire decent grades. The rigorous nature of this class has pushed my comfort zone as has caused a positive shift in both of my critical reading skills and my writing. Consequently, this push has made me more, but not entirely, comfortable with a burdensome English based course. The visible growth in annotation is severe; I have drastically