Rhetorical devices

Here are some of the rhetorical devices that Barack Obama uses in his speech on the shooting in Orego…

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Allusions and references

In his speech, Obama makes several allusions (indirect references). He first alludes to some of the groups and organizations that are pro-guns (the National Rifle Association) and that would most likely advocate for fewer gun control laws after the Oregon incident: “Right now, I can imagine the press releases being cranked out: We need more guns, they’ll argue. Fewer gun safety laws.” (ll. 58-60…

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Repetition

When Obama employs repetition, his purpose is to show the urgency of changing gun control laws in the US, and how the American people are not doing enough to prevent the violence that they see so often: “But as I said just a few months ago, and I said a few months before that, and I said each time we see one of these mass shootings, our thoughts and prayers are not enough. It’s not enough.” (ll. 22-25)

Anaphora – the repeti…

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Rhetorical questions

When Obama employs rhetorical questions, they are mainly used to reflect his frustration that America’s political system has failed to introduce common-sense gun control laws. First, he uses a rhetorical question when he talks about the possible responses of pro-gun organizations: “Right now, I can imagine the press rele…