Analysis
Here are the elements which will help you with your analysis of Ronald Reagan’s “Tear down this wall” speech.
The rhetorical situation is that the speaker is Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States. His audience consists of the people who attended his speech about the importance of tearing down the Berlin Wall, as well as those who listened to it being broadcast.
The composition of Reagan’s speech can be split into four parts. Reagan uses elements that are typical of a political speech to capture the attention of hid audience.
The style of language is formal and suits the political context of the speech. However, Reagan introduces a few metaphors that enhance the meaning of his words.
Some of the rhetorical devices that Reagan uses in his speech are allusions and references, direct address, and antithesis. Some of the rhetorical devices are meant to convince the Soviet Union to tear down the Berlin Wall, while others are meant to encourage people in East Berlin.
When it comes to forms of appeal, Reagan uses ethos, pathos, and logos to engage his audience. Ethos highlights his credibility, pathos makes the audience feel connected on an emotional level, while logos supports Reagan’s claims about democracy.
You can read a full analysis of the speech on the following pages.