UPDATE: Class is Cancelled Today! See you all on Wednesday.
Today is the introduction to our module on public speaking. We'll start the week's learning by listening to the momentous occasion of Obama's Inaugural Presidential Speech.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
You can also find the text of Obama's speech here.
Group Activity Web Quest Obama makes many historical references. What do you know about the topics in the table below? Google, and see what you can find out. Then fill in the google doc:
http://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?snapid=S273476RkWz
For the final activity, you will need to find some rhetorical/literary devices in Obama's speech. This handout here will be of help. Remember, leave your blog comments on this post.
AlES 204: Lecture 9 - Speeches
View more presentations from Jessica Laccetti.
The American Rhetoric website also has an audio recording of Obama's speech.
The American Rhetoric website also has an audio recording of Obama's speech.
Obama uses a lot of allusion to relate the past to the present. It shows that there has been many changes made and will be continued to be made through out our lifetime.
ReplyDeleteObama uses a quote from a past president Lincoln, as a form of allusion comparing past situations to present situations. This is done to demonstrate the past successes to encourage future successes.
ReplyDeleteI had to delete my blog and create a new one to get around the issues with photo uploads. My new blogger address is: http://stepht-ales204.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletea lot of repetition for effectiveness such as:
ReplyDeleteFOR US...., they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
FOR US...
FOR US...
and anyone know how to use that google doc? I can't enter anything
Obama used past events as an allusion in his speech. This was to reinforce the belief that he will lead the country into a positive future.
ReplyDelete"Oath taken during gathering clouds and raging storms..." "let us brave the icy currents..."
ReplyDeleteallegory: storms ect. are used as symbols of times of tumult
As well he uses many instances of allusion eg. "They fought and died in places like Concord and Gettysburg"
Obama uses lots of shifts in tone, from comforting to strong, powerful. There are also lots of repetitive words in the speech, such as "on this day", "for us", "all this we can do". Besides lots of allusion being used in the speech, there are also many analogy..
ReplyDelete"As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages"
"rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace."
ReplyDeleteMetaphors: rising tides - prosperity; still waters - peace
The use of these metaphors gives more of a visual aid, peace has meaning, but when you think of the serenity and calmness of still waters, then this line has more of an effect.
I had to delete my old blog here is my new blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://wagma8.blogspot.com/
Obama Used repetition to make his thought more powerful. Ex. "Yes We Can!" People began cheering and responding to his tone.
ReplyDeleteHe also used allusion to compare the past with what he plans for the future.
As a side note too, he would have short phrases then stop to let the audience soak it in and add more dramatic effect.
Obama alluded to a part in Martin Luther King's speech “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” when Obama said that we will put our hands “on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.”
ReplyDeleteObama is a great speaker. He connects with the people by telling them that he won because of the people, he talks aboout young people, old people, disabled and not disabled. He talked to the people at their level. "we as a people will get there"
ReplyDeleteHe uses metaphors like "the road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep, we may not get there in one year or even one term" to help create a picture in the audiences head of what they must do.
He wants people to really understand what he is saying, so he repeats "a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice, so let us summon a new spirit of patriotism..." and "yes we can" to get them to listen and really think about the task at hand.
When he talks about the past and compares it with the present and future he is using allusion. This helps him make his point that even though in the past 100 years there has been many changes, there are still more to come.
Rachael Adams
rradams18
"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have STRANGLED our politics."
ReplyDeletePersonification creates drama here.
Throughout his speech, Obama alludes to the past in MLK's speech by saying "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." When he mentions events such as the "Houses of Birmingham", "The Buses of Montgomery", "A Preacher in Atlanta", and "The New Deal" this is also allusion.
ReplyDeleteMetaphor: "The rock of our family" when referring to the grounding and solid qualities of First Lady Michelle Obama.
Alliteration was in the phrase "planet in peril", which really draws the listener's attention.
Allegory (symbolic representation) was used when describing his campaign team when Obama stated that the campaign was started in "The backyards of Des Moins, the living rooms of Congden, the porches of Charleston ." He is using these representations to symbolize that everyday Americans won the campaign.
President Obama Used lots of repetition (ex, for us, for us..) and metaphor to make his thoughts more powerful and symbolic. Also, he used allusion.
ReplyDeleteBefor he starts his speach of between his speach he stoped few seconds to grab a attention from the audience and makes speah more effective and powerful.
He talks about the future and says “The road ahead with be long, our climb will be steep, we may not get there in one year or one term but I’m hope full we will get there.” This resembles foreshadowing because he knows of what is to come. As well in this sentence, he uses metaphors to deepen people’s understanding of what they should expect. The “long road” is the years it will take to achieve goals and the “the climb will be steep” is the amount of work it will take to get there. “I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it has been done in America. Block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand.” This is the use of allegory because it is a symbolic representation. No one is actually building society with blocks and bricks but he states it this way to represent the society working together to “build” a stronger nation. I found these literary devices within a few shorts minutes in the video. Many sentences that he says use them. Amazing speech!
ReplyDeleteObama's speech includes many examples of literary devices, the most common being repetition when he continually says "For us", "On this day", "This is the...", and especially the usage of "we" and "us". He also uses alliteration when saying "All this we can do, all this we will do". There are many allusions when he refers to Bible scripture, historical events, current events, and speaks of the Founding Fathers. Obama also uses Onomatopoeia when describing the 'raging storms' and uses allegory when speaking of "rising tides of prosperity and still waters of peace".
ReplyDeleteWhat makes Obama's speech so moving is that he speaks to the American people very personally and TO them; he is not just making a speech, but he is having a very private and emotional conversation with them. He does not use I, but 'we' and 'us' allowing his audience to connect with him and eachother. Obama also speaks of the problems in American and how every body needs to work together to fix them, saying "it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies". Obama allows the whole audience to understand the issues and gives them drive and motivation to fix them. This is what makes his speech so great.
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Obama's inauguration speech was moving and powerful due to his use of numerous literary devices. The main device that he used to emphasize his speech was his change in tone and the use of pauses to enhance the dramatic mood. Through the use of allegory and allusion to numerous events and individuals such as Neil Armstong, he was able to supplement the tone of "Yes we can" result in change. The use of repetition in doing it for "the people, for us, we etc." further enhanced the tone of collectivism, democracy, and hope.
ReplyDeleteObama uses many literary devices including allusion and an emphasis in his words. His tone changes to create a positive mood for the speech which keeps the audience motivated and involved in what he is saying. His allusions include many historical references to past events relating to what was happening at the time of his speech.
ReplyDeleteObama's speech is powerful and moving. This is largely due to his use of several literary devices. Some of the most notable ones to me were the metaphors he used. In the end of his speech he states "let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come". This is a powerful metaphor that creates community.
ReplyDeleteThe key to the success of this speech was his consideration for his audience. This speech had the ability to touch every American no matter social status, age or economic standing. He told relate-able anecdotes and he provided a new sense of hope.
Through out his speech, he repeats important/key words or phrases, one's that he wants people to remember. Such phrases are "On this day" and "For us". He focuses on the people of America, "our workers", "our minds", "our goods and services", and "our capacity". Obama also refers to the many different people of the United States and around the world. Other examples of metaphors, alliteration, allusions and allegories are seen throughout his speech to emphasis his point, make his point stronger and to keep the attention of the people during his speech.
ReplyDeleteThe speech Obama gave on November 4, 2008 after winning the presidential election captivated an audience from across the world. The successful communication of his speech can be, in part, credited to the figurative language throughout his address.
ReplyDeleteObama's confident execution of a compelling compilation of words enables him to reach his audience of millions on a personal level.
Examples of Figurative Language:
Personification: "...put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day"
Metaphor: "...we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers."
Alliteration: "...who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright"
Obama's strength in speaking is evident through this inaugural speech. His facial expressions stay constant throughout, whether talking about his love of his life, his wife, or talking about the downfall of the economy. However, his enthusiasm is not overshadowed by the consistency of his facial expressions because of the rhetorical devices he uses. The tone of his voice changes to emphasize words like "but TONIGHT", "in this DAY", "in this ELECTION", "change has COME". Obama's voice becomes more serious, and quiet as he speaks of the "enormity of what lies ahead". Yet, his voice strengthens when he talks about "the best campaign team ever".
ReplyDeleteHe often used repetition to emphasize his points, such as "yes we can". Obama wanted to make the people feel like that they belong to something greater. Possessives such as "you", "us" and "we" were repeated throughout. This concept of including the people is what democracy is, and he emphasizes it through the possessives and reminding people of the "power of our democracy". His anecdote about the 106 year old woman, also emphasizes the importance he places on including the people.
Another technique I found interesting was his use of opposites in single sentences. Some examples are: "stories are singular/destinies shared", "heartache/hope", "struggle/progress", "can't/can".
Obama used many rhetorical devices in his speech. One allusion I noticed was in this passage. He alludes not only to the civil rights movement and to his father, but also to himself being the first President of African American decent:
ReplyDelete"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred Oath."
Madeleine Bosnyak
Obama uses anaphora multiple times throughout his speech. Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases or lines. One example of this in his speech is:
ReplyDelete"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."
Another example is:
"the time has come to "set aside childish things." The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history"
If Obama is good at one thing, it's public speaking. Many of his speeches are heavy with allegory-a way of representing what he says in grand and drastic metaphors. This speech is full of them, however A few standout metaphors in this speech included "this winter of our hardships", "icy currents" and "storms (that) may come". These were Obamas final metaphors, and they served to not only acknowledge Americans of the stress the country is enduring, but as motivation to overcome trials. He also alluded to various historical events and times of hardship, such as when the enemy was approaching or when African Americans were not allowed the basic rights that Whites were. Personification in the quote "our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace" refers to America undivided, that it is a living being that as a whole will have to conquer the problems it faces.
ReplyDeleteObama's allusions are extremely powerful. When he talks about the last century of change, his allusions connect listeners to his message emotionally. People recognize their ability to endure tough times and to create change in their own lives because they are reminded of what they or their parents or grandparents did in the past. Near the end of the speech, he begins to repeat his famous saying, "Yes we can". From the sounds of the audience, it is clear that this repetition serves to strengthen Obama's points and engage the listeners.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama uses very strong wording in his speech that projects both strength and leadership. Many literary devices can be seen without the speech:
ReplyDelete-Personification- He gives human qualities to objects creating affect and impact.
Examples:
“strangled our politics”; “sapping of confidence”; “America is a friend of each nation”; “to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds”; “America’s birth.”
-Allusion: Through references to events in history he is able to communicate to the people that America is ever changing and that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
Examples:
“set aside childish things” this is a reference in literature, a verse of Paul the Apostle, 1 Corinthians 13:11.
“fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.” This is a reference to the Arlington National Cemetery, where those who gave their lives for America remain.
-Foreshadowing: Obama hints to what he will be changing in the future during his Presidency.
Examples:
“We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.”
“…we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.”
-Obama also uses a very pleasant flow of words that make it transition seamlessly throughout the whole 20 minute speech. Similar sounds and consonants make it flow very effectively.
Examples:
“…we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”
“magnificent mall”; “farms flourish”
-Allegory: He uses symbolic representations in a way people can understand.
Examples:
“Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms…”
This example is a reference to the emotional and physical hardships of the Dirty Thirties.
Obama is a great speaker, he uses many literary devices to help enforce his ideas. I liked when he talked about his family and added that his kids would be getting a puppy, it made me feel that i related to him, he has family values just like any other individual. He is encouraging that they will get out of the current economic situation. He also uses metaphors and allusions of the past to get his message across.
ReplyDelete"The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace." Obama uses a metaphor to colorfully describe the language of the presidential Oath as having an impact during both intense and tranquil times.
ReplyDeleteObama alludes to the "Founding Fathers" and their objectives to convince the audience that the American dream, which has carried the country through successes and challenges, continues to be the focus of this government and its platform.
Obama uses great tone a rhythm in his speech. He is bold in his words and adds pauses to create dramatic effect. This allows the audience to sense his leadership and passion.
ReplyDeleteObama also uses many allusions. By referencing historical events, we are able to see the successes of the past and relate them to Obama's ambitions for the future.
President Obama is a wonderful public speaker. He knows how to get the audience's full attention with the use of powerful words. He makes allusion to past political events to strengthen his points as a leader.
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed listening to President Obama speak. Even when he has to face hecklers the keeps his cool. Very impressive! Watch this from September 26th, 2011 when Obama is being called the 'Anti-Christ'!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfD0AIzAYlY
It is hard enough to speak in front of an extremely large group of people, but I couldn't imagine getting heckled at the same time! He definitely has skills when it comes to public speaking!
Obama is able to captivate his entire audience with a very motivational speech. He states many inspirational quotes and engages the audience and everyone watching while he is speaking. Obama is an icon for giving speeches. He keeps a steady pace, while elaborating on the more important point to get his view across. I only wish I could speak like Obama! He encourages and congratulates America and his colleagues with the success that has been accomplished and the more success to come.
ReplyDelete"As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains."
ReplyDeleteObama used a metaphor in this sentence. "the road that unfolds before us" is not a real road but means the future of America.
BTW, Obama's speech is full of passion and he used changed in tones to make some emphases.
President Obama is a great speaker. He speaks directly to the audience, and uses questions as his introduction. This hooks the listener and keep them interesting.
ReplyDeleteObama uses metaphors in his speeches to help solidify his point. He also uses repetition of key phrases, let "yes we can". He is a strong speaker, but does not appear overbearing. He has an ability to connect with his audience that few possess.
There are numerous literary deviced are used in Obama's speech. The very first one could be found at the very beginning of Obama's speech. He said :"It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, democrat and republican, black and white, gay and straight, disabled and non-disabled." This is a oxymoron which puts two contradictory words together. He use this literary device to emphasize on the equality between each individual in America. Also, he pointed out that America is like one unioned family, everyone should be listened to and cared about, so called United Sates of America.
ReplyDeleteHis speech is filled with passion and very excited!
First,Obama knew who his audiences are.They are all the American people.So he used some questions at the start of the speech to draw people's attention and inspire their love to the nation.
ReplyDeleteSecond,during the speech,he gave many examples which from everyone's daily life to let people have the feeling to be involved.For instance,he mentioned people use the power of online communication to raise money.Also, he described the daily life of American common people.
Last,Obama's speech is full of passion.He used some short but strong sentences to let people have resonance with him.
Overall, Obama uses many pauses to emphasize a point he has just completed and he uses repetitions to drive home some key messages.
ReplyDeleteHe uses a personification in his speech when he claims; "petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.".
He repeats "On this day" and "For us," to drive home the greatness of that day and of the people who made it possible.
There is an alliteration towards the end of Obama's speech; "This is the price and promise of citizenship."
Sidenote: one of my favorite lines is "The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous".
Obama gives an awesome speech and his public speaking can impress people. He has used lots of literary devices throughout his speech and here are the examples.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I think he has used oxymoron. For example in phrase "and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet." As strengthen and threaten are words that against each other, and they appear together in the same sentence.
Secondly, I think he has used lots of repetition. For example in phrase "the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." The word "all" repeats for 3 times in the sentence and it creates a powerful voice to let audiences know "all of us as a citizen" have a right to fight for happiness. Moreover, he has also used repetition in "For us" and "All this we can do", which also makes his speech more impressing.
Thirdly, he has also used lots of allusion in his speech by mentioning history. For example he has mentioned "Our Founding Fathers", which indicates learning from the past is important in leading to success.
Lastly, I think his speech is convincing as he even talks about his family. I love the way his talks!
Obama used may literacy devices in his Presidential Inaugural speech. Personally I like the metaphors he used in his speech, since they make his speech simple and succinct to understand. At same time, highlighting the information he want to deliver to the audience.
ReplyDeleteExamples "The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace." rising tide and still water are metaphor as the economic prosperity and peace, stable period corresponding.
"...Oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms." Gathering clouds and raging storms use as metaphor for the challenges, Americans are facing now or in the near future.
"As we consider the road that unfolds before us" Unfolds road use as metaphor for future tasks.
Obama uses alliteration in his speech, this helps to give flow to the speech, and is enjoyable to the ears. Obama also takes the listening value of his speech into account by paying strict attention to where he inserts pauses into the speech for maximum climatic effect.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama has quite a bit of expertise in engaging his audience in an interactively manner. This informative speech, aligned with its inspiring effect has been deliberately designed to convey a core idea-we, representing the one united nation, are ready to make a change. He is aware of what this country’s citizens want from the government the most, so that he started off with an attention-grabbing concept-no matter where you come from your voices can make a difference in our history, this way, making the speech appeal to each individual who has been concerned about his or her own identity.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the rest of his speech, a variety of literary devices has been introduced and among which the likely most frequently occurred should be repetition, which enabled a simple phrase like “Yes, we can” to be unexpectedly powerful. To amplify the effect of touching his audiences emotionally, he did not stay at the same tone, instead, he changed his tones smoothly as the speech flowed. Another fact that I wanted to point about is that each individual section of his speech connected to one another logically. Under a key shared topic, he constantly added relevant information to reinforce the fact that America is going to change in a positive direction.
Duo Zhi
Obama uses metaphors in his speech to compare the current hardships that America is facing to winter. He talks about America braving the "icy currents" and enduring "what storms may come". These metaphors serve to make the problems of America much more relatable to the average person. They also show that the problems that America is facing will not be magically over, just as a storm doesn't magically disappear. Instead America will have to wait for the "storm" to pass and will undoubtably have to deal with the consequences afterwards.
ReplyDeleteObama used varies literary devices in his speech. First, he used repetition. He keeps repeating "yes, we can". This emphasizes his idea that he can really change America in a positive way and give hope to his audience. As he repeat twice, he gains agreement from his audience, everyone is yelling "yes, we can" back to him. He successfully raise the attention and build the connection between him and his audience. Secondly, he used allusion from Lincoln, comparing the success in the past and foreshadow what he is intending to do in the future, which is also going to be successful. Thirdly, he used a lot of "us, we, without you", letting his audience to connect with him and creating a collective identity with the people. Fourthly, he changed his tone all the time accompany with a pause to attract people attention. The tone is changed from a pause to mild then to powerful. This is very convincing to his audience because he is amplifying not only the sound but the points in his speech too.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the speech, Obama had used lots of literary devices to demonstrate his idea.
President Obama uses many rhetorical devices in his 2008 Victory Speech. The devices used frequently in his speech include allusion, repetition, tone and pause. His use of allusion (i.e. making reference to a famous person or event) include his early mention of the "dream of our founders". He also takes some time later in his speech to discuss what "Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours". Repetition is used frequently in his speech to create strong rhythm and emphasis. President Obama uses repetition at the beginning of clauses (anaphora) ex. "If there is anyone our there who still....who still....who still....". Repetition is also used at the end of statements (epistrophe), for example, "yes we can!". Throughout his speech, President Obama also uses changes in tone and pause to create emphasis and emotional momentum.
ReplyDeleteThere are also examples of devices used to lesser degrees in his speech as well. These include metaphor (ex."rock of our family") and alliteration (ex. "restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace").
Obama's speech has become such a historic event in US history. Not only is he an exceptional public speaker, he has the ability to capture the attention of his audience. Literary devices are essential when performing a speech or presentation and were used to the extreme in his inauguration speech. Allusion, analogy, climax, pun and of course the smile. All of which were used multiple times throughout. If there is one thing we can learn from his speech, thats above and beyond the use of literary devices, its the ability to convey a message. His tone, pace and gestures were all time perfectly. He did his job, people walked away remembering his words - the goal of any speech. And last but not least. Repetition, repetition, repetition - yes we can - the hook of his speech. This engaged the audience and developed a sense of unity among the audience.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama incorporated many rhetorical devices throughout his awe-inspiring speech. Several of these included allusion, repetition, metaphors, tone, and pause.
ReplyDeleteThe points Obama conveyed were strengthened through the use of allusion. By referring to past events, both good and bad, he reminds us of the consequences of the nation's actions. Examples include "...fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages..."; "For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn."; and the mention of Lincoln.
There were various periods in the speech where he used repetition. He repeated, "All this we can do" twice. In doing so, he makes you believe that they will and can make the changes.
Metaphors added a sense of creativity to the speech. Some examples are "...the Oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms."; and "...during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace."
Obama's use of tone and pause add strength and emotion to his speech; they demonstrate his passion for the topics he chose.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHere is my blog post for the week:
ReplyDeletehttp://kelsmacdonald.blogspot.com/2011/09/speeches.html
I'm in lab D3.
Obama's speech is one to remember and will undoubtably go down in history. He is gifted with the ability to speak publicly and capture his audience.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons his speech is so powerful is because of his ability to emphasize, motivate, and cause his audience to reflect through the use of his tone, pauses, and emphasis on certain words. Every pause in speech or change in pitch is a deliberate choice to further the impact of his speech.
Obama uses allusions, and is thus able to parallel historical references to the events of today, ie, when he discusses the past century of change. He uses repetition for a powerful effect on his audience, creating a dramatic mood and catch phrases such as "Yes we can", thus ensuring that his speech will not soon be forgotten. He also foreshawdows the change that is nearing in the future.
All of the tools Obama uses and his natural ability to speak publicly all demonstrate his passion and the belief he has in what he is saying.
Obama used all sorts of literary devices in his speech. The two most used devices were repetition (Yes we can) and allusions such as:
ReplyDelete"Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential Oath."
"For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn."
Obama is a very inspirational and captivating speaker. Obviously he can persuade a nation with his word, especially hook/catch phrases like "YES WE CAN" and "FOR US"
ReplyDeleteAlso this following sentence is an anaphora.
"We will Build the roads of bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to it's rightful place in wield technologies wonders to raise health cares qualities and lower it's cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools, colleges, and universities to meet the demands of a new age."
Also this sentence is a form of an asyndetons:
"Homes have been lost, jobs shed, business shuttered."
As well as this sentence is a polyptoton
"the nation can not prosper long when it only favors the prosperous.
Also this is the link to my new blog
ReplyDeletehttp://alheureu.blogspot.com/
Obama is probably one of the most charismatic politicians that I have ever encountered. He is very 'real' and geniune, unlike some politicians. When they give speeches, it seems so well versed, and 'fake' because all they are doing is reading from a paper. How can an ordinary citizen trust these people, when they are not passionate and confident about what they are speaking about?
ReplyDeleteThat is defintely what strikes me about Obama. His confidence and passion that he brings to the podium. He barely looks at his notes; he uses many literary techniques such as repetition (all this we can do), (yes we can!) and allusions to the past (the Scripture, Europeans who settled in the states), to emphasize his message to the audience. He also speaks slow with lots of pauses to let his words sink in.
Allusion to American history was probably his main technique that he used. For example, he explained how the hardships and sacrifices of the settlers should give the American people of today the courage and strength to continue fighting for freedom and security.
In my opinion, Obama's speech skills are the best out of all the presidential candidates throughout my lifetime. Even better than Canadian politicians. When he speaks, you can tell that he cares a great deal for his country and wants to do right by the people of the US. To be honest, whenever politicians speak I usually tune out because they're boring, lifeless, and really don't interest me with what they have to say. I just read summaries of the speeches. However, Obama has such a huge presence and a strong voice that makes you 'want to buy whatever he's selling'. His allusions to the past signifies that he knows what works and what doesn't work for their country. Some politicians ignore the past and put the country in worse shape. By making those allusions to the US history, he's giving the people security and ensures them that he does not intend on making those same mistakes. Rather, that he has learned from them and will utilize them to further the US citizens.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteObama is just an Excellent and very Convincing Public speaker. He uses many tools to convey his message and that people would take him more seriously. He uses allusions, comapares the past to the present which could indicate him trying to say that there are many changes that need to be made in the present and that we need to learn from the past to not make the same mistakes again.
ReplyDeleteObama's use of repetition is typical for good public speakers. It ensures he get's his point across to the public.
ReplyDeleteObama frequently uses repetition in his speech. He uses the phrases “For us” and “on this day” numerous times throughout the talk. “For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.”
ReplyDeleteAllusion is another literary device which he commonly used. He mentioned many past events, and even alluded once to President Lincoln. I think he does this to tie the strong history of the U.S. to current events in order to infuse a sense of pride and unity in the listeners.
He also personifies politics throughout his speech, which I suspect was done to prompt an emotional response in the audience as well as to maintain listener interest. For example, “we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have STRANGLED our politics."
President Obama is undeniably a profound public figure and speaker. His speech exudes confidence and power. His speech was also very personal and related to his audience. This is clearly shown by the audience's reaction throughout his speech. He talks about the past, present and future which was also very inspiring. To give a speech of that length, Obama always showed confidence and didn't hesitate his thoughts. It shows that he knows what he is talking about and is confident about it. He tries to include everyone in his speech, even those who did not vote for him. Obama repeats "Yes we can" throughout the last part of his speech. It was very powerful and definitely a good way to end his speech.
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