Exploring the rhetoric in MLK’s “I Have a Dream Speech” and Hitler’s speech to the National Socialist Party

Thinking Critically: The power of language, discourse and rhetoric: Consider how each speaker uses language, discourse and rhetoric to connect with and convey their message to their audiences

How does each speaker/orator project their voices (Hitler more aggressively and commanding than MLK, MLK more hopeful and spiritual, both inspirational)?

How does each speaker/orator use various gestures when speaking?

How does each speaker keep returning to certain phrases in their speeches (“I have a dream…” for MLK) or concepts (returning to the idea of a perfect race and dedication to the National Socialist Party in Germany for Hitler)?

How does the speaker/orator address their audience (as leaders of a movement, for a people, for ideals)?

Who is the speaker/orator’s audience (MLK = African Americans and Anglo Americans, perhaps one more than the other, though; Hitler = the individuals in the National Socialist Party in Germany; how does the media, the filming of the speeches, affect their audience? Does it mean there is a larger audience?)?

The idea that each speech is being recorded on film and/or televised ... how is this significant?

The context (or setting) of each speech ... how is that significant for the speaker/orator as well as the audience?

How does each audience’s reactions to the speaker/orator influence or further inspire them to speak more passionately?

Something to think about: The concept of how being a part of the setting or event of the speech each individual is connected in a certain way to that context, or setting, and those ideals and beliefs, and in some instances encouraged or expected to conform to the speaker/orator’s ideals and beliefs...

Continuing from this kind of conformity, how are the individuals within each specific audience might either be silenced by the rhetoric and fervor or how they might choose to be silent in order to not appear as an outcast, dissenter or just problematic/disagreeable with the popular opinion within that context or setting (side note: women being silenced within society – they have their designated places to talk and be heard = such as at home or in the kitchen; could we imagine a woman speaking like MLK or Hitler during this time period?)?

How is (is he?) MLK more humble or spiritual in his behavior and mannerisms? Is Hitler more aggressive and commanding in his behavior and mannerisms? How? Explain.

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Finally, how is each speech an example of epideictic rhetoric (i.e. a ceremonial speech) because they were political speeches (actually, both speeches could be considered to some extent deliberative, i.e. legislative, and forensic, judicial or scientific), and how does each one portray elements of ethos, pathos and logos (Are both speakers/orators ethical for their context or setting? Do both speakers/orators address the emotional sides of their audiences, MLK through compassion and understanding and Hitler through dedication and tradition to the German state and the notion of a “perfect people,” how does each speaker/orator address the logical or reason of their audiences? MLK through the capacity to relate as a father and human being with dreams, and Hitler through capacity to follow the tradition of National Socialist Party in Germany and unite under it to preserve its heritage in years to come)?

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Full set of notes and breakdown for both speeches

 Martin Luther King, Jr. and Adolf Hitler were confident, strong, passionate and emotional public speakers … both speakers seem like credible speakers, MLK- an African American man speaking about the inequalities between African Americans and Anglo Americans; both speakers use the kairos (“the opportune moment”) for speaking about their topics/arguments, building up their audience’s enthusiasm as well as using that enthusiasm to speak more powerful and passionately; on a smaller note, MLK read a little less from his notes or his written speech than Hitler, still, both seemed to speak from their hearts, quick question, do you think that either MLK or Hitler wrote their speeches?

 Both speakers use gestures when speaking, both vary their tone (speak softer and louder at times), both pause during their speeches

 MLK – uses repetition in conveying his dream to his audience; Hitler uses examples of dedicated supporters of the National Socialist Party in the audience (basically pointing them out)

 Both speakers presented their arguments effectively to their audiences. Their arguments were about or somewhat dealing with race: MLK – Equality between the races,

 specifically between African Americans and Anglos in North America; Hitler – The preference of one race, the Aryan (i.e. blonde-haired, blue-eyed and 6+ foot tall) or white race, over other races and bloodlines, as well as the dedication required from those Aryan or white race to the Nationalist Socialist Party in Nazi Germany in the early 1930s

 The mannerisms of the speakers – MLK – Gesturing to the audience, pausing and stressing various ideas in his speech through repetition, using personal pronouns such as “I” or “my,” surrounding himself with people who support the civil rights cause and equality between African Americans and Anglos Americans ... Hitler was also surrounded by individuals that supported him, maybe through forced, though, but he stood at the podium alone, whereas MLK stood with supporters around him as he spoke

 The audiences were: MLK’s audience seemed to be primarily African Americans but is also speaking to Anglo Americans … remember, the speech was televised so it is possible that MLK’s speech is directed to individuals who owned television sets, perhaps well-off individuals and families, watching the speech from their homes; Hitler’s audience seems to be geared toward Anglo Germans who believe in or support the National Socialist Party in the 1930s Nazi Germany, stretching this concept of audience could also be non- Aryan or individuals who do not agree with or support the National Socialist Party (remember, Hitler’s speech is also being recorded, so it is possible that the message(es) being sent out in Hitler’s speech is warning those opposed to him and his party’s philosophy)

 Both speaker’s espouse, or promote their ideologies, defined as values and be[lie]fs (there is a lie in every belief)

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Beginning discussion over the article in the magazine Housekeeping Monthly (1955)

Who wrote this article?

Who is the intended audience of this article?

What could have led to the author writing this article?

How do the ideas and concepts relate to our world today?

What is the context in which this article was written, the historical framework, social conditions, relationships between males and females?

How does language and discourse appear in the article, why did the author choose those particular words, such as “the good wife’s guide” and how it compares to other “guides,” such as how a soldier follows orders without question?

How is the format of the article (i.e. no introduction to the guide or identification of the author), which starts and ends with bullet points, similar to a manual or guide for putting together the “perfect wife?”

How does the article portray the notion of a “wife” and how does it entail many other aspects, such as being a servant to the husband and children, maintain the upkeep of the household and family image, the image of a “homemaker?”

What about the image at the beginning of the article (i.e. the positions of the man and the woman, the children, the colors of their clothing, etc.)? How is this significant? Explain.

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