Context and audience
Where and when did Kennedy deliver his Inaugural Address?
What is january 20, 1961, at his inauguration in Washington, D.C
What did Kennedy ask Americans to do in his Inaugural Address?
What is to serve their country and make sacrifices for the common good
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” is an example of what?
What is antithesis / parallelism.
What is the tone of the Inaugural Address?
What is optimistic and inspiring
In 1961, Kennedy said the U.S. would “pay any price, bear any burden” to defend what?
What is freedom/liberty
How did Americans watch the Cuban Missile Crisis speech in 1962?
What is on national television
In the Cuban speech, what U.S. action was Kennedy explaining?
What is the naval blockade (quarantine) of Cuba
In “Let every nation know…” Kennedy repeats the same phrase at the start. What is this called?
What is anaphora
What is the tone of the Cuban Missile Crisis speech?
What is serious, calm, and urgent
What later program was inspired by the Inaugural Address theme of service?
What is the Peace Corps
Who was president before Kennedy?
What is Dwight D. Eisenhower.
What was Kennedy’s main claim in the Cuban speech?
What is Soviet missiles in Cuba are a threat that must be removed
“Torch has been passed” or “abyss of destruction” are examples of what kind of language?
What is metaphors/imagery language
Does the Cuban Missile Crisis Address start in medias res (in the middle of the action) or with an introduction?
What is it begins directly with the crisis, in medias res
What theme do both speeches share about America’s role in the world?
What is the U.S. must lead and protect democracy
Besides the Americans which people did Kennedy also speak to in the Cuban speech?
The Cuban people.
What was the message of “Ask not what your country can do for you…”?
What is citizens should contribute to the nation, not just expect benefits
Which rhetorical appeal (ethos, pathos, or logos) is most dominant in the Cuban Missile Crisis Address?
What is logos
Reason: Kennedy mentions specific and step by step reasoning for example “unmistakable evidence,”, missile ranges like “1,000 nautical miles,” and the numbered actions “First… Seventh…” to justify the quarantine logically
Why did Kennedy avoid technical military terms in 1962?
To make the crisis easy for all citizens to understand
How does Kennedy use historical references (for example the 1930s) in the Cuban speech?
What is to warn that subtle aggression leads to war
How does Kennedy’s role as president influence his narration/point of view in both speeches?
What is he speaks in first person as a reliable narrator representing the government, using authority to gain trust and credibility (ethos)
Compare the messages of the two speeches: How do they show Kennedy’s wider vision for America?
What is inaugural = longterm ideals of service and freedom. Cuban = immediate action to protect freedom. Together they show the U.S. as a global leader defending liberty
Find one example of a tricolon (three part list) in Kennedy’s speeches and explain its effect
Example: “Pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship”. It strengthens rhythm and emphasizes sacrifice
How does the structure of each speech create its effect on the audience?
What is inaugural builds to climax “Ask not…” and ends with hope. The cuban lays out evidence, then action, then reassurance, ending with determination. Both structure persuasion carefully.
How do these speeches reflect the period of the early 1960s?
What is they show Cold War fears, the nuclear threat, the call for unity, and America’s identity as a global defender of freedom