Oluwatomisin Bami-Ogunbiyi
Professor Perkins
English 1301- 2nd Period
16 October 2017
An American Dream
It is difficult to accomplish a dream. Martin Luther King in his 1963 speech, “I Have a Dream” uses anaphora, allusions, and metaphors to project his vision to his audience. Examining King’s use of rhetoric devices can enable one to copy them.
King’s anaphora’s include dream, hundred years, never be satisfied, faith and time. An anaphora is “a repetition” of a word or phrase in a sequence of three or more sentences (Figures). King repeats “dream” eleven times in his speech, to stress the idea of a bigger picture where Negros and the Whites are equal (King 4). King says “one hundred years later” to emphasize what little change has happened since the Emancipation Proclamation (King 1). King says “we can never be satisfied” to reiterate that until civil rights movement is done, they must be relentless (King 3). King believes that through “faith” they can accomplish anything (King 5). “Now is the time” is a call to action, a time for a change (King 2).
King’s allusions include unalienable rights, end long night, my country, five score years and every valley. An allusion is an indirect “brief reference” to someone else’s work (Figures). King refers to the Declaration of Independence which guaranteed “unalienable rights” to all men (King 1). King alludes to Psalm 30:5 to show that God was going to “end the long night of captivity” (King 1). King refers to the 1831 song “My country, ’tis of thee” to strengthen his point about liberty and equality (King 5). King uses “five score years ago” to flashback to when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln, which assured freedom for the Negroes (King 1). “Every valley shall be exalted” King uses Isiah 40:4-5 as a reference to show that everyone will be equal (King 5).
King’s metaphors include manacles, oasis of freedom, bad check, light of hope and invigorating autumn. Metaphors are comparison of two nouns without using like or as. King compares segregation to being bound with “manacles”, because the Negroes actions were restricted (King 1). Equality is an “Oasis of Freedom”, because everything is calm and peaceful (King 5). King compares justice to a “bad check” because the African-Americans were denied fair treatment and opportunities (King 2). King likens the Emancipation Proclamation to a “light of hope” because it was the first major step towards equality (King 1). King compares freedom to an “invigorating autumn” because it marked the end of a sweltering summer (King 2).
King uses rhetorical devices to persuade his audience. Examining King’s use of rhetoric devices can enable one to emulate them. Some of his devices included “One hundred years later” because it showed how much time had gone by and how things were still the same, “unalienable rights” because it guaranteed equality for everyone and “bad check” because it showed that the Negroes were being denied opportunities. The examination of King’s rhetoric devices can enable the reader to copy his persuasion techniques.

Works Consulted
King, Martin L. Jr. “I Have a Dream.” Strategies for Successful Writing. 10th ed. Ed James A. Reinking and Robert von der Osten. Boston: Pearson, 2014. 588-591. Print.
“Figures of Speech.” iloveindia.com . Web. 6 July 2015.