Analysis
Here are the elements which will help you with your analysis of Lyndon B. Johnson’s “We Shall Overcome” speech.
The rhetorical situation is that the speaker is Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th president of the United States. His audience consists of the members of Congress to whom Johnson introduced his voting rights legislation.
The composition of Johnson’s speech can be split into several parts, according to the topics he addresses. Johnson uses elements that are typical of a political speech to capture his audience’s attention.
The style of language is formal and mirrors the political context of Johnson’s speech. However, he also introduces figurative language which helps him make his speech more memorable.
Some of the rhetorical devices that Johnson uses in his speech are direct address, repetition, antithesis, and rhetorical questions. All rhetorical devices are meant to highlight the importance of passing the voting rights legislation and of ending racial discrimination in the US.
When it comes to forms of appeal, Johnson mainly uses ethos and pathos in his speech. He engages the audience through ethos – which highlights his credibility, and pathos – which adds an emotional component to the speech.
You can read a full analysis of the speech on the following pages.
