Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Figural Speech

President Kennedy always wanted above average and never wanted to settle for good, but for greatness. His inaugural address was his first step into greatness. He was a firm believer in unity and being together as one in this country. Throughout his short, but successful presidency, he shows how important togetherness is to make the country strong. January 1961, John F. Kennedy became the 35th president of the states and was giving his inaugural address. John F. Kennedy’s pathos, logos, and repetition in the speech allow the American people to be eager for his presidency and allow them to see the changes he foresees for the country during his term.

John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech was considered one of the most inspirational speeches in American history. He gave the speech to bolster the fighting spirit and act as an inspiration for the Americans. The reason for this is quite simple actually. He used stylistic devices extensively in his speech to boldly proclaim his intentions. He has proven himself resourceful in his usage of stylistic devices such as antithesis, parallelism, pathos, and ethos. He uses them to fully express his message and to gain the attention and the support of his people in a patriotic fashion. One of the examples of his use of antithesis is when Kennedy is referring to “a new generation of Americans” where he vividly shows the separation between the old and

There are many things that a speech must contain to make it a well written and spoken speech. John F. Kennedy 's speech he gave on September 12th 1962, titled “Address at Rice University on the Nation 's Space Efforts”, better known as “We Choose to go to the Moon” contains many of the important factors of a successful speech. Kennedy used rhetorical strategies and skills to help him influence the American people to help accomplish the major goal of reaching the moon. Kennedy did not only want to reach the moon, but he wanted to be the first country to do so. President Kennedy effectively told the objective he found important by using ethos, pathos and kairos throughout his speech to help get the support of the people. By using these three rhetorical strategies Kennedy gave a moving speech.

On a cold January day America’s newly appointed president John F. Kennedy delivered his inauguration address that was incredibly important to America’s success during the Cold War. Kennedy uses his speech as a call to arms, but not only to America but the World and our allies as a whole. He uses his strong powerful voice to appeal to the ethics of the country in the beginning of his speech telling America about the promise we made when we were founded and that we must uphold it still today, telling America we must make a difference. Kennedy also uses ethics to explain that we the people are united no matter what your background or where you are from, he refers to the Americas as one place, because he wants for us to feel unified not divided. Furthermore Kennedy’s use of powerful imagery, logic and pathos allows for him to effectively call the people of the World together during this terrible time.

Prior to 1962, America was beginning to combat its recession. In an attempt to accelerate the process, President John F. Kennedy called upon the nation, to make sacrifices for the benefit of this country. Now, Kennedy is forced to address the nation once again to secure his beliefs, by using diction, repetition, appeals to authority, logic, and emotional appeals. Kennedy’s speech stirred the nation and furthered his dream because of his strategies.

John F Kennedy, 35th president of the United States Of America, in his inaugural speech, vocalizes his ideas for the country and its future through the use of many rhetorical devices such as diction, metaphors, ethos and rhetorical question to convince the people he is fit for the job of president. During the height of the cold war, John F. Kennedy was given the burden of solving the obstacle of the U.S.S.R. The gap between the presidential candidates was microscopic with John F Kennedy getting 49.72% of the votes and Nixon 49.55% of the votes. Most people believed that The now democratic president would get eaten alive in Russian negotiations and was unfit for the presidency. These factors made the speech that much more intense because he had to assure and calm the people who were in high doubt that JFK was the right person for the job. This is why he used these subtle but successful tactics to win the favor of the people and convince them to not only support him, but become active participants in their democracy.

Prior to John F. Kennedy’s inauguration was, of course, the election of 1960, in which Kennedy went face to face with Richard Nixon on issues such as, the Cold War, Kennedy’s religious beliefs, and the display of each’s competence. In Kennedy’s inaugural address, he not only alludes, but also addresses to the Cold War, and makes mention of his future plans and Roman Catholic religious beliefs; and, he does so through use of allusions and anaphoras. Through the use of allusions and anaphoras, Kennedy effectively achieves his purpose of fulfilling citizen’s expectations, addressing the Cold War, and stating the United States’s future plans to his audience, the United States of America and other nations, through emphasis and rhetorical appeals towards pathos and ethos.

On April 11, 1962, President John F. Kennedy held a news conference to discuss the 3.5% increase on steel prices across the country. With the country at war, and struggling to emerge from a recession, increasing the price of steel would have a negative impact. After his administration had taken steps to aid the steel companies to reach a non-inflationary steel workers union contract, the decision to increase steel prices was deemed to be a betrayal of the President and the American people. The speech was directed towards the “common man” in opposition to big steel companies. He speaks for the purpose of not only persuading the companies to lower their prices, but also to convince the public that he is looking out for their best interest. Kennedy employs a disapproving tone and strong diction in an effort to clearly achieve his goal in influencing the steel

Within the first part of Robert Kennedy’s speech, he begins with using an anaphora and continues to implement them throughout his speech.The use of his first anaphora “In this difficult day, in this difficult time”(P2), helps to identify and acknowledge

Kennedy’s speech is a monumental moment in history, and one of the most effectual rhetorical devices he uses is anaphora. In paragraph fifteen through eighteen he says, “Let both sides explore. . . Let both sides, for the first time, formulate. . . Let both sides seek. . . Let both sides unite. . .” This is an example of anaphora because the beginning phrase repeats and ends with a different verb. These phrases change the audience’s sceptical outlook on his incredible speech, because he fulfills his purpose of unifying the nation. This use of anaphora is well placed in his speech. Since it is about two thirds into his address, Kennedy has already established his credibility and the audience is willing to listen to his advice. The second reason these anaphora phrases are so powerful is the repetition implemented. Human brains are naturally programmed to

Throughout president John F Kennedy 's inaugural address speech he presents several emotional appeals to convey his feelings towards the American people. The purpose of Kennedy 's Inaugural Address speech was to inform the people of what his intentions were for the future of this country. Since this speech was based on his intentions for the future of his country, a sense of trust needed to be established between him and the people, he accomplished this by applying emotional appeals to his speech. President John F Kennedy charged up his speech by making sure he built bridges between him and the people. Through his speech, he capitalized on change, not only for America alone but for the globe itself. Since this time was not a time of peace, where war, inequality, racism was transpiring, President kennedy included numerous lines of hope, that could have potentially been used to persuade the audience to strongly believe in what he was communicating with them. He mentions “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty…”(Kennedy para2) ,relating to all people of lower class, providing them a sense of hope in which they could look forward to. John F Kennedy then continues by summarizing that it is time for America to shape its own future and that the people as a whole can overcome any obstacle that is bestowed upon them. People at this time found these words very

Additionally, the use of biblical allusions further instills Kennedy's want for unity globally. When using an anaphora with the repeated phrase, “let both sides,” at the beginning of paragraphs 15-18, he emphasizes his view of unifying the frightened world. The final paragraph included in this anaphora references Isaiah from the Christian Bible. Kennedy asserts that the great powers of the world should, as Isaiah said, “‘undo the heavy burdens”’ (18) in which both nations put on each other. By alluding to a common religious figure, Kennedy restates his goal with greater potency so the global world has a better understanding of his incredible desire. He further agrees with Isaiah in his want to “‘let the oppressed go free,”’ (18) meaning, in terms of the current conflict, rid of

Kennedy’s use of anaphora emphasises the idea of coming together and moving forward. Anaphora is shown

Men and women throughout history, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, are not only known for their actions, but also for the words they speak. The advice and beliefs of inspiring individuals takes an important spot in historical textbooks, which future generations study and use as examples in their lives. The authors use rhetorical devices to express their message with sophisticated, academic English language. One such influential individual is the 35th President of the United States, also known as John F. Kennedy. On January 20, 1961, Kennedy inspired the nation with his inaugural speech which called the people into action and expressed the need for every individual to contribute. At the end of his speech, Kennedy conveys his message that American citizens and citizens of the world must collaborate to defeat the common enemies of man--despotism, penury, infection--by appealing to logos, pathos and ethos.

John F. Kennedy’s purpose in his inaugural address was to, one, establish trust, as he was a young man beginning his term as president. Second, create a sense of peace in the height of the Cold War. Third, give hope to a brighter future, he did this by stating five points he wanted to achieve, which he later did. Throughout the address numerous figures of speech are thrown in. Among many, anaphora, abstract words, and rhetorical questions convey his purpose throughout the speech.