Rhetorical devices
Barack Obama employs several rhetorical devices in his speech on the American promise to make it more persuasive and memorable. The most important devices he uses are allusion, antithesis, direct address and repetiti…
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Allusion
In his speech, Obama makes an important allusion to Martin Luther King Jr. and to his famous speech. By alluding to King’s words, Obama’s purpose is to show Americans the importance of people not being guided towards hate and anger, but towards unity and community:
And it is that promise that forty-five years ago today, …
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Antithesis
Antithesis – or the combination of opposite ideas with the purpose of illustrating a contrast – is used when Obama talks about what makes America great:
This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that’s not wh…
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Direct Address
Obama directly addresses the audience, which is evident through the use of the pronouns “you”, “we”, and “us” and through the use of posse…
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Repetition
Anaphora, or the repetition of the same words at the beginning of consequent phrases, is often used by Obama in his speech. For example, anaphora is used when Obama tries to define the American promise: “It’s a promise that says each of us has the freedom (…) It…
