John F Kennedy - Inaugural Address Rhetorical Devices

Pathos

- "the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace"

This will appeal to the reader's emotion because if they realize how badly war has impacted our country and the world, they will want to come back together and unify like J.F.K. hopes.

- "Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

By speaking of freedom of man, he refers to man as one species not classified by race or culture. The emotional appeal is that people will realize this and want to unite as one and not treat others differently because of where they are from because it shouldn't impact their rights.

Antithesis

JFK Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis: Ex "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor it cannot save the few who are rich" (para 9). This is effective because it is saying that no matter who you are or how much money you have, if a free society can't help then no one will be happy.

Ex "That both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction." (para 12) This is effective because he is saying that if both sides work for the same goal then they can accomplish it, but they must do it before humanity brings it down.

Logos

- "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."

If people realize the state of our society, and how it is not helping anyone, they will be more likely to want to make a change.

- "All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days."

Anaphora

It is common sense to know that unity cannot be achieved immediately, but when people realize that it is common goal we can all work towards, they will help make the world a better place.

Purpose

" Let both sides" (paragraphs 16-19) :

This is effective because not only does it emphasize his points, but it promotes unity during the war, which is again a common goal for everyone to work towards in the new generation.

- To explain his goals to acheive as a new president of America

- To allow others to see things from a new perspective

- Promote equality and unity of a new generation

- "assure survival and success of liberty."

Subject

Tone

Subjects specifically addressed in the speech include...

- Liberty

- Equal rights

- Freedom

- American ideals

- Unity

- World peace

John F Kennedy - Inaugural Address Rhetorical Devices

- Serious and formal diction; use of asyndeton

- Patriotic, inspirational

- "success of liberty" shows passion

- Passage would be read seriously, but expression emotion throughout

Speaker

President John F Kennedy

- Male, 43, Upper Class, Democrat

- Democratic point of view, supported equality and peace

-Not particularly liked, specifically in the south to due to his civil rights beliefs.

Figurative language

Faith Wegner, Ryan McLaughlin, Tyrese Campbell

Occasion

Idiom:

examples : "free governments in casting off the chains of poverty." (paragraph 10)

" that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans"

( paragraph 9)

- This is effective because it gets his point across to not only the American people/government, it helps address governments and people internationally.

- Jan 20, 1961, Washington D.C.

- Newly elected president JFK; traditional inaugural speech

- Era of the Cold War

Diction

Ethos

- "I have sworn before you and almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago..."

- "rights come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God"

- "...asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on Earth God's work must truly be our own."

- Formal

- He uses higher level word choice for his audience so he can appeal more to the government from a political standpoint.

- It also makes him appear very knowledgeable on the subjects he is addressing.

By referring to God, J.F.K. is expressing how his belief coincides with what he would want for America, and what would be considered morally correct at the hands of Christianity. This would allow more people to agree with him if their religious standpoints are the same.

Allusion

" His blessing and His help , but knowing that here on Earth God's work must truly be on our own"

(para 28)

- He refers to God because God's beliefs relate to how JFK wants America and The World to live.

Audience

Rhetorical Strategies

- "Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, , President Truman, Reverend Clergy, fellow citizens:"

- "Whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world."

Asyndeton: Ex "that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty" (para 5). This is effective because it shows that him and the country will do anything to make it peaceful. Also they are showing that they want the country successful