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*windbag – a person who, like the wind,
just ignore everything he or she says Website design By BotEap.comRhetorical devices are techniques that help a writer or speaker to embellish a speech and to persuade and influence people regarding the argument presented. In JFK’s inaugural address, his rhetorical devices have done the job of pleasing and persuading people with his message. In just 1,355 words, he has been able to use 13 rhetorical devices to persuade people. One in particular is Alliteration. Website design By BotEap.comAlliteration is a consecutive repetition of initial sounds (vowels and consonants) in a sentence or sentence. In JFK’s speech, a total of 28 alliterations have been used. The following alliterations are identified in bold and labeled by their paragraph number: Website design By BotEap.com(1) same solemn oath Website design By BotEap.com(2) the man holds in his deadly hands
(2) for which our ancestors fought Website design By BotEap.com(3) exit from this moment
(3) to friends and enemies alike Website design By BotEap.com(4) if you wish us well
(4) We will pay any price, bear any burden
(4) the survival and success of freedom Website design By BotEap.com(6) faithful friends Website design By BotEap.com(7) colonial control
(7) strongly supporting Website design By BotEap.com(8) struggling to break the bonds of mass misery Website design By BotEap.com(10) sovereign states
(10) writing can be executed Website design By BotEap.com(11) before the dark powers of destruction
(13) the constant expansion of the mortal atom
(14) sincerity is always subject to test
(19) peace preserved
(22) carry the load
(23) a great global alliance Website design By BotEap.com(27) high standards of strength and sacrifice
(27) go out and lead the land we love Website design By BotEap.comAnother rhetorical device that has been featured in JFK’s inaugural address is Anaphora. Website design By BotEap.comAnaphora refers to the repetition of one or more words at the beginning of sentences, clauses, or consecutive sentences. There have been a total of six anaphoras presented in JFK’s speech. The first group of anaphoras is indicated in Paragraph 2: Website design By BotEap.com(2) …to abolish all forms of human society
and all forms of human life Website design By BotEap.comAnother set of anaphoras is also shown in paragraph 7: Website design By BotEap.com(7) We will not always expect to find them supporting our opinion.
But we will always hope to find them staunchly supporting their own freedom… Website design By BotEap.comThe third set of anaphoras from paragraph 6 to paragraph 11 of JFK’s inaugural address is presented: Website design By BotEap.com(6) To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share…
(7) To those new states we welcome into the ranks of the free…
(8) To those people in the huts and villages in the middle of the world…
(9) To our sister republics south of our border…
(10) To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations…
(11) Finally, to those nations that wanted to become our adversary… Website design By BotEap.comIn the following paragraphs from 15 to 19, a fourth set of anaphoras is also given: Website design By BotEap.com(15) That both parties explore what problems unite us…
(16) That both parties, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals…
(17) Let both sides try to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors…
(18) Let both sides unite to pay attention, in all corners of the earth…
(19) Let both parties come together to create a new effort… Website design By BotEap.comA fifth set of anaphoras is also specified in Paragraph 8: Website design By BotEap.com(8) … not because the communists are doing it,
not because we seek your votes,
but because it’s right… Website design By BotEap.comFinally, in Paragraph 22 a sixth set of anaphoras is indicated: Website design By BotEap.com(22) … not as a call to bear arms, although we need arms –
not as a call to battle, though we are under siege… Website design By BotEap.comA number of metaphors have also been mentioned in JFK’s inaugural address. Website design By BotEap.comA metaphor is a rhetorical device that directly compares a person with an object. A total of eight metaphors are listed in JFK’s speech: Website design By BotEap.com(3) … that the torch has been passed… Website design By BotEap.com(7) …those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger… Website design By BotEap.com(9) …to help free men and free governments to throw off the chains of poverty…
(9) …this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become a prey to hostile powers…
(9) … this hemisphere intends to continue owning its own home… Website design By BotEap.com(13) … running to upset that uncertain balance of terror that remains… Website design By BotEap.com(19) And if a cooperative beachhead can
(19) push back the jungle of suspicions… Website design By BotEap.comAntitheses have also materialized in JFK’s inauguration speech to the people. An antithesis refers to a contrast within parallel sentences. A total of eight antitheses taken from the direction are indicated: Website design By BotEap.com(1) We see today not a party victory but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing both an end and a beginning, signifying renewal as much as change… Website design By BotEap.com(2) … not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. Website design By BotEap.com(6) United, there is little we cannot do in a series of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do… Website design By BotEap.com(15) Let both sides explore what issues unite us instead of dwelling on the issues that divide us. Website design By BotEap.com(19) …not a new balance of power, but a new world of laws. Website design By BotEap.com(24) I do not shrink from this responsibility, I welcome it. Website design By BotEap.com(25) And so, my fellow citizens, do not ask what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country. Website design By BotEap.com(26) … ask not what the United States will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Website design By BotEap.comTwo parallels in the discourse have also been identified. A parallelism refers to the congruence of the tenses of verbs used in succession in sentences. Website design By BotEap.com(4)… pay any price, bear any burden, face any difficulty, support any friend, oppose any enemy… Website design By BotEap.com(8) If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. Website design By BotEap.comTwo apostrophes have also been indicated in the inaugural address. An apostrophe refers to the interruption of thought to directly address a person or personification. Paragraphs 21 and 25 contained examples of apostrophes: Website design By BotEap.com(21) In your hands, fellow citizens, more than in mine… Website design By BotEap.com(25) And so, my fellow citizens, do not ask what your country can do for you… Website design By BotEap.comTwo opposing rhetorical devices, Polysyndeton and Asyndeton, have also shown up in JFK’s speech. A polysyndeton refers to the insertion of conjunctions before each word in a list. It is evident in Paragraph 19: Website design By BotEap.com(19) … where the strong are just and the weak secure and peace preserved… Website design By BotEap.comOn the other hand, an asyndeton refers to the absence of conjunctions in a sentence, as seen in paragraphs 4, 17 and 24: Website design By BotEap.com(4) … bear any burden, face any difficulty, support any friend, (and) oppose any enemy… Website design By BotEap.com(17) Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate diseases, (and) take advantage of the depths of the ocean… Website design By BotEap.com(24) … energy, faith, (and) devotion… Website design By BotEap.comThe use of chiasms has also been evident to embellish JFK’s inaugural address. A chiasm is a rhetorical device that reverses the grammatical order from one sentence to the next. In paragraphs 14 and 25, examples of chiasmus have been indicated: Website design By BotEap.com(14) Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.
(25) … do not ask what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for yourself
country. Website design By BotEap.comOther rhetorical devices have also been used in JFK’s inaugural address. Anastrophe, which refers to the reversal of word order (syntax) to mark emphasis, becomes evident in Paragraph 5: Website design By BotEap.com(5) This is what we promise, and more. Website design By BotEap.comThe punctuation of a point with an *aphorism, called Sententia, has also become evident in Paragraph 18: Website design By BotEap.com(18) …to “undo the heavy burdens, and set free the opposites…
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*aphorism – said; adage; cliche; maximum Website design By BotEap.comTricolon, which refers to a series of three parallel words, phrases, clauses, or statements, has also been featured in paragraph 22: Website design By BotEap.com(22) … not as a call to bear arms, although we need arms –
not as a call to battle, though we are besieged,
but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle. Website design By BotEap.comIn some cases, numerous rhetorical devices may be implied in a sentence, clause, or statement. Multiple statements have apparently been implicated in JFK’s inaugural address with numerous rhetorical devices for each statement. Website design By BotEap.comParagraph 25 indicates four rhetorical devices: Apostrophe, Chiasm, Antimetabole and Antithesis; Paragraph 4, two devices: Parallelism and Asyndeton; Paragraph 15, two devices: Anaphora and Antithesis. Website design By BotEap.comParagraph 25: Website design By BotEap.com(Apostrophe)
So, my fellow citizens, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Website design By BotEap.com(chiasm)
So, my fellow citizens, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Website design By BotEap.com(Antimetabol)
So, my fellow citizens, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Website design By BotEap.com(Antithesis)
So, my fellow citizens, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Website design By BotEap.comParagraph 4: Website design By BotEap.com(Parallelism)
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, face any hardship, support any friend, oppose any enemy, to ensure the survival and success of liberty. Website design By BotEap.com(Asyndeton)
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, face any hardship, support any friend (and) oppose any enemy, to ensure the survival and success of liberty. . Website design By BotEap.comParagraph 15: Website design By BotEap.com(Anaphora)
(15) Let both parties explore what issues unite us instead of dwelling on those.
problems that divide us
(16) That both parties, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of weapons, and put the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
(17) Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap into the depths of the ocean, and foster the arts and commerce.
(18) Let both sides unite in heeding, in all corners of the earth, Isaiah’s command to “undo heavy burdens and [to] Set the oppressed free.”
(19) Let both sides unite to create a new effort, not a new balance of power, but a new world of laws where the strong are just, the weak are safe, and peace is preserved. Website design By BotEap.com(Antithesis)
(15) Let both sides explore what issues unite us instead of dwelling on the issues that divide us.