Martin Luther King's Speech: "I Have a Dream" (1964)
Rhetorical Analysis
Listen to a tape of his speech or watch the speech on Youtube. Then, answer the following questions by analyzing the text and historical context.
Audio: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
1. Who is the intended audience? Who is the secondary audience? What impact does broadcasting MLK's speech on live television have?
2. What is the purpose?
3. Why is this the right moment and right place for this speech? (Research the time and place.)
4. What is the primary rhetorical appeal used - ethos, pathos or logos? Explain.
5. What are the keep phrases that are repeated? One example is "I Have a dream... Find other repeated phrases.
6. What are the common repeated words? How many times are these words used?
• Freedom
• We
• Our
• Justice
• Injustice
• Dream
• Nation
• America or American
Quotations/Sayings
What is the source of these quotes and why did King include them in his speech?
Five score years ago / Four score and seven years ago
"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"
Geographic references
List the various states and land formations MLK refers to. Why does he include these geographic references? What rhetorical strategy is being used?
Response
What is your personal reaction to this speech?