Name: Hajin Wang Date: 02-27-2023

ARGUMENT

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King’s letter was a persuasive essay and to strengthen his argument, he
used well-known rhetorical devices, or special language techniques to evoke
emotion or make a point, in an attempt to get readers to change their minds
about a topic. Antithesis, allusion, and rhetorical questioning are three devices
that all function to make arguments more persuasive.

RHETORICAL WHAT IT IS EXAMPLE

DEVICE
ANTITHESIS comparing negatives or
opposites side by side for
dramatic effect
ALLUSION referring to a well-known
person, book, or institution
RHETORICAL questions that have obvious
QUESTION answers that are asked to
further an argument
It was the best of times
it was the worst of
times…
Plato tells us that there
are two types of
knowledge.
Why should we put up
with injustice?

DIRECTIONS: Identify the rhetorical devices that King uses in these lines from
the letter. Note that a single sentence may include more than one rhetorical
device.
Was not Martin Luther an extremist: “Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so
help me God.” …And Abraham Lincoln: “This nation cannot survive half
slave and half free.” And Thomas Jefferson: “We hold these truths to be self
evident, that all men are created equal.” So the question is not whether we will
be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists
for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or
for the extension of justice?

1. Antithesis:
“…for hate or for love?”, “Will we be extremists for the preservation
of injustice or for the extension of justice?”, “So the question is not
whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will
be”.

2. Allusions:
“Was not Martin Luther an extremist”, “…And Abraham Lincoln”, “And Thomas

Jefferson”.

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 3. Rhetorical questions:
“Will we be extremists for hate or for love?”, “Will we be extremists
for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?”.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.