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(22-23) Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech: Text Analysis Questions

Last updated over 3 years ago

29 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions

Rhetorical Appeals, Devices, Purpose, and Perspective

Martin Luther King, Jr speech audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

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Question 2

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Question 3

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Question 4

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Explain your answer to #3.

Question 5

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Question 6

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Question 7

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Explain the purpose of the "cash a check" extended metaphor, which starts on the previous page, paragraph 4 and continues on this page, in paragraph 5.

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Question 10

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Question 11

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Question 18

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Question 19

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Question 20

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Explain your answer to question #19

Question 21

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Question 22

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Question 23

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What type of text structure is the paragraph that starts with "I am not unmindful..."? Explain.

Question 24

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Question 25

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Question 26

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Question 27

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Question 28

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Question 29

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What rhetorical appeal is being used starting with "Five score years ago..." and ending with "...the Negro is still not free"?

A. Ethos: appeal to credibility and ethics

B. Logos: appeal to logic

C. Pathos: appeal to emotion

What rhetorical device is being used with "Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today..."?

A Simile

B Metaphor

C Allusion

D Illusion

What is the text structure of the paragraph that starts with "But one hundred years later..."?

A Cause and Effect

B Problem and Solution

C Examples

D Contrasts

Based on your first reading of the text, what statement best describes King’s purpose in this speech?

A To chastise his audience to take action

B To persuade his audience to seek equality

C To encourage his audience to place blame on others

D To illustrate the many issues stacked against his audience

Select the quotations that BEST states King's purpose. 

A "It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned."

B "This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the 'Unalienable Rights' of 'Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'"

C "So we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition."

D "One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land."

E "I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation."

What type of rhetorical device is "...from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice"?

A Simile

B Metaphor

C Anithesis

D Idiom

How does King's antithesis about light and dark in paragraph 6 advance his purpose? (RI.2.6)

A The antithesis advances King's purpose of seeking equality and freedom in that it uses the light to symbolize the excitement of the audience. 

B The antithesis advances King's purpose of seeking equality and freedom in that it uses the sunlight to symbolize the heat that protests create.

C The antithesis advances King’s purpose of seeking equality and freedom in that it uses the sunlight to symbolize the bright future of the nation if all people are treated equally.

D The antithesis advances King's purpose of seeking equality and freedom in that it uses the light to symbolize the end of an era. 

Explain how King’s use of repetition in paragraph 6 advances his purpose. (RI.2.6)

A The repetition of “now is the time” in paragraph 6 advances King’s purpose by showing that all of America is ready to make a change. 

B The repetition of “now is the time” in paragraph 6 advances King’s purpose by giving an example of how     all Americans are reluctant to make a change in their way of life. 

C The repetition of “now is the time” in paragraph 6 advances King’s purpose by showing African Americans are willing to wait for what was promised to them.

D King’s use of the repetition of “now is the time” in paragraph 6 advances King’s purpose in demanding immediate action to create freedom and equality.  It shows that African Americans are no longer willing to wait for what was promised to them.

What type of rhetorical device is "This sweltering summer of..."?

A simile

B alliteration

C metaphor

D onomatopoeia

What type of rhetorical device is "...business as usual." ?

A Simile

B Idiom

C Metaphor

D Allusion

What is the meaning of the metaphor “the whirlwinds of revolt” in the last sentence of paragraph 7?

A. It implies that racial injustice in the past threatened the nation.

B. It implies the destruction of the nation if racial injustice is ignored.

C. It contrasts with “the bright day of justice” to imply that racial injustice leads to uprising while equality brings peace.

D. It contrasts with “the foundations of our nation” to imply that racial injustice leads to uprising while equality brings peace.

What mood does the metaphor “the bright day of justice emerges” create in this speech?

A. a somber mood

B a hopeful mood

C an angry mood

D. a cheerful mood

What rhetorical appeal is being used starting with "But there is something..." and ending with "...guilty of wrong deeds"?

A. Pathos: appeal to emotion

B. Logos: appeal to logic

C. Ethos: appeal to credibility and ethics

What type of rhetorical device is "'When will you be satisfied?'"?

A simile

B allusion

C rhetorical question

D metaphor

What type of rhetorical device is "...justice rolls down like waters..."

A metaphor

B simile

C onomatopoeia

D irony

What is the author's purpose in the paragraph that starts with "There are those who are asking the devotees..."?

A.  To convince the audience that they must find a cause important to them to support and rally behind.

B.  To illustrate the various consequences of ending racism in America.

C.  To encourage his audience to find fault in others who promote racism and discrimination.

D.  To point out to his audience the reasons why racism and discrimination must be eradicated

What type of text structure is the paragraph that starts with "There are those who are asking..."?

A Description

B Cause and Effect

C Problem and Solution

D Comparisons

What rhetorical appeal is being used starting with "And some of you..." and ending with "...winds of police brutality."

A. Pathos: appeal to emotion

B Ethos: appeal to credibility and ethics

C Logos: appeal to logos

How does King’s use of parallelism in paragraph 10 advance his purpose? (RI.2.6)

A His use of parallelism with the phrase “Go back to…” serves to encourage all those listening to return to places of their suffering to fight for justice and equality and to give them hope that change will come.

B His use of parallelism with the phrase “Go back to…” serves to persuade all of those listening to return to their hometowns and wait for change. 

C His use of parallelism with the phrase “Go back to…” serves to explain which states need to work the hardest. 

D His use of parallelism with the phrase “Go back to…” serves to show his audience states that need to be located on a map. 

Which statement best explains how King achieves a purpose through a rhetorical appeal?

A. King uses an appeal to ethics and credibility (Ethos) as a minister through a literal description of the landscape of the country.

B. King uses an appeal to ethics and credibility (Ethos) as a minister by associating equality to “the glory of the Lord.”

C. King uses an appeal to logic (Logos) by explaining how the landscape will evolve over time and become level.

D. King uses an appeal to logic (Logos) by citing facts and figures to show how people of all skin color desire equality and justice.

Which statement best explains the figurative use of the phrase “all flesh” in paragraph 24?

A. The phrase is an example of metaphor because it compares flesh to humans.

B. The phrase is an example of antithesis because it provides contrasting ideas about humans.

C. The phrase is an example of synecdoche because all flesh refers to all humans and therefore uses a part to describe the whole.

D. The phrase is an example of metonymy because all flesh is related to the idea of being human but does not use a part to describe the whole.

How does the figurative use of the phrase “all flesh” support the purpose and central idea of the speech?

A. It expresses the idea that people of all skin colors will one day witness “the glory of the Lord” through equality and justice.

B. It expresses the idea that people of all skin colors are frail in comparison to the “glory of the Lord.”

C. It contrasts with the idea that “one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low.”

D. It explains the idea that “the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight.”

How does King use the parallelism "let freedom ring" to advance his purpose in paragraphs 16-18?

A This phrase advances King’s purpose in the speech because it encourages his audience to play music once their tasks are achieved. 

B This phrase advances King’s purpose in the speech because it informs the audience that equality can only be obtained in these states. 

C This phrase advances King’s purpose in the speech because it shows that King believes that freedom can be achieved throughout the United States.

D This phrase advances King’s purpose in the speech because shows King understands the plight of his people in the states listed. 

Choose one of the following tones that describe the speech.

A Repetitive

B Confusing

C Persuasive

D Inspiring

Select TWO details from the speech that BEST support the author’s point of view regarding equality in America.

A. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

B.  We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.

C.    And so we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

D.  I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells.