Rhetorical Devices
This rhetorical device involves repeating the same word or phrase at the start of successive sentences or clauses to create emphasis.
What is repetition?
In Dr. King's letter, this word means “to deny or contradict.”
What is gainsaying?
Appeals that target the audience’s feelings, such as pity or anger, are called this type of appeal.
What is emotional appeal (pathos)?
A just law is one that aligns with this higher moral or divine authority.
What is the law of God or moral law?
Dr. King’s tone toward the clergy he addresses is mostly this, because he feels they have not supported the cause strongly enough.
What is disappointed?
Using similar sentence structures in a row, like “I came, I saw, I conquered,” is called this.
What is parallelism?
This word means “extreme exaggeration used to emphasize a point.”
What is overstatement?
Appeals that use facts, data, or logical reasoning to persuade are called this.
What is logical appeal (logos)?
Dr. King argues that people have the right to do this to unjust laws.
What is to disobey or break them?
Dr. King shows respect for this group who have organized and led the nonviolent campaigns in Birmingham.
Who are the local civil rights leaders?
When Dr. King contrasts ideas such as “just” and “unjust” laws in the same sentence, this device is being used.
What is antithesis?
The term for an error in reasoning or faulty logic that weakens an argument is called a ____.
What is a logical fallacy?
Dr. King uses this type of campaign, which avoids violence, to protest segregation.
What is nonviolent action?
An unjust law is often created by this kind of group or system that lacks true democratic election.
What is an undemocratic legislature or oppressive government?
This phrase describes Dr. King’s hope that the clergy will understand the “legitimate and unavoidable” nature of the protesters’ impatience.
What is “the cup of endurance runs over”?
This rhetorical technique involves referring to a famous person, event, or text to make a point without explicitly explaining it.
What is allusion?
A word meaning “fair and morally right,” often used to describe laws Dr. King supports.
What is just?
Dr. King argues that waiting for justice has lasted over this many years for African Americans.
What is 340 years?
Dr. King explains that this principle distinguishes just from unjust laws by how they treat human dignity and equality.
What is fairness or equality?
Dr. King appeals to this concept when he says human progress requires tireless effort, not inevitability.
What is moral responsibility or hard work?
Dr. King often uses this device to acknowledge opposing viewpoints before explaining why they are incorrect or insufficient.
What is concession?
This word describes laws that violate moral or divine principles and are used to oppress minorities.
What is unjust?
According to Dr. King, this group’s inaction and moderate stance actually hinders progress toward civil rights.
Who are white moderates?
This is the term for laws that degrade human personality and are imposed by the majority on a minority.
What are unjust laws?
Dr. King uses this image to show that time alone will not bring change without active effort.
What is “time becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation”?