Rhetorical devices
In what follows, we will look at some of the most relevant rhetorical devices used by Obama in his remarks at the memorial service of Nelson Mandela, giving you a few examples from the speech. This is far from a complete list, so we recommend that you expand your analysis by looking for similar ones in the spe…
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Allusions and direct refereces
The speaker makes direct references to people and events related to Nelson Mandela’s life. For example, Obama mentions Mandela being imprisoned during the Cold War and released when the Cold War ended, to emphasize the extreme duration of the imprisonment: “…a brutal imprisonment that began in the time of Kennedy and Khrushchev, and reached the final days of the Cold War” (ll. 28-29)
The speaker also mentions several events that made Mandela a memorable leader: “…introducing his jailers as honored guests at his inauguration; taking a pitch in a Springbok uniform; turning his family’s heartbreak into a call to confront HIV/AIDS…” (ll. 125-128)
Apart from these direct references, Obama includes a series of allusions in his speech. An allusion is an indirect reference to people, events, or art that the speaker finds relevant for the purpose of his address. For example, Obama alludes to th…
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Analogy
An analogy is a comparison through which speakers draw parallels between people and events. Barack Obama uses this rhetorical device very frequently in his speech.
Firstly, he compares Mandela to other important leaders: “Like Gandhi, he would lead a resistance movement” (ll. 23-24); “Like Dr. King, he would give potent voice” (ll. 25-26); “he would -- like Abraham Lincoln – hold his country together” (ll. 31-32); “And like America’s Founding Fathers, he would erect a constitutional order” (ll. 34-35)
Gandhi promoted non-violent resistance in the fight for Indian independence from the British Empire. Martin Luther King promoted non-violent activism during the Civil Rights Movement in the US. Abraham Lincoln ended slavery and led the US through the Civil War. The American Founding Fathers established the Declaration of Independence and the US Cons…
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Tricolon and repetition
Tricolon is a language device where things are mentioned in threes for a more memorable effect on the audience. For example, Obama mentions “inclusion and generosity and truth” (ll. 135-136) as core values Mandela had and which should guide others. Similar ideals mentioned later in the speech are “peace and justice and opportunity” (l. 187).
When he mentions present challenges, Obama mentions three of them and combines tricolon with the repetition of ‘how to’: “...how to promote equality and justice; how to uphold freedom and human rights; how to end conflict and sectarian war…” (ll. 177-17…
