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Rhetorical Analysis of The Letter from Birmingham Jail
- Categories: Letter From Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King
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Words: 5497 |
28 min read
Published: Dec 16, 2021
Words: 5497 | Pages: 4 | 28 min read
In Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail," he employs various rhetorical strategies to convey his message and justify the Civil Rights Movement. King establishes his credibility and ethos by referencing his organizational ties and his role as the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He effectively uses pathos to elicit strong emotional responses from the audience, describing the trials and suffering of African Americans, both past and present. Through vivid imagery and emotional language, King paints a compelling picture of the injustices faced by his community.
Furthermore, King appeals to logos by questioning the meaning of a "just law" and providing historical examples of unjust laws and extremist figures who brought about positive change. He uses these examples to challenge the moral compass of his audience and make them reflect on their own beliefs.
King's use of repetition and rhetorical questions enhances the impact of his arguments and engages the audience on a deeper level. By posing questions and repeating key phrases, he encourages his readers to consider the consequences of indifference and the necessity of immediate action.
Table of contents
Rhetorical appeals in the letter from birmingham jail.
- Fulkerson, R. P. (1979). The public letter as a rhetorical form: Structure, logic, and style in king’s “letter from Birmingham jail”. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 65(2), 121-136. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00335637909383465?journalCode=rqjs20)
- King Jr, M. L. (1992). Letter from Birmingham jail. UC Davis L. Rev., 26, 835. (https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/davlr26&div=31&id=&page=)
- Leff, M. C., & Utley, E. A. (2004). Instrumental and Constitutive Rhetoric in Martin Luther King Jr.’s” Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Rhetoric & Public Affairs, 7(1), 37-51. (https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/26/article/55773/summary)
- Mott, W. T. (1975). The Rhetoric of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Letter from Birmingham Jail. Phylon (1960-), 36(4), 411-421. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/274640)
- Miller, J. (2009). Integration, transformation and the redemption of America: The Fire Next Time and A Letter from Birmingham Jail. European Journal of American Culture, 28(3), 245-262. (https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/ejac.28.3.245_1?crawler=true)
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