Comparative Essay Study Guide

Martin Luther King Jr.'s use of pathos in "I Have a Dream" begins with the words, "but one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free." It is necessary to do this at at this point in the essay because King is attempting to incur sympathy and empathy from the audience, which is necessary to appeal to the consciences of those in the audience and make them feel as though they must heed his words and join the Civil Rights movement and continue it until it has reached its goal. A rhetorical feature present in this pathos is parallelism, when he says "one hundred years later," repetitively.

The overall trend of pathos in the piece is similar to the above example as evidenced by the moment where he says, "We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back." This pattern of pathos contributes chiefly to the purpose of King's rhetoric, which is to spur those who hear or read his speeches to action. Additional rhetorical features used to create pathos in the piece are a positive connection to the audience, a tone of strength and religious allusions, specifically when he says "let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends."

Martin Luther King Jr.'s use of logos in "I Have a Dream" begins with the words, "We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality." It is necessary to do this at this point in the essay because it reinforced that, while the Civil Rights Movement is on the precipice of something great, at this time it was not there yet. There were still things like police brutality, ban from lodging, "For Whites Only" segregation, and a lack of vote for African Americans in most states, things which the movement still needs to combat which is why it is so important to push ahead. The logos backs up the pathos appeals and convinces the audience to keep pushing forward. A rhetorical feature present in the logos is, again, parallelism, specifically when he says, "we can never be satisfied."

The overall trend of logos in the piece is similar to the above example as evidenced by the moments where he brings up the Declaration of Independence, which 'guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"' and says, "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." This pattern of logos contributes chiefly to the purpose of King's speech, which is ultimately to convince the audience to stay with the movement. This does so by convincing them of their right to the freedoms promised to them by history, and forces them to evaluate why the African Americans could not have these things. Additional rhetorical features used to create logos in this piece are historical allusion, with the above examples, as well as religious quotes, specifically when he quotes, "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

King's use of ethos in "I See the Promised Land" begins with the words "the Almighty said to me." It is necessary to do this at this point in the essay because it immediately establishes King as a person his audience may want to take seriously. The structure for this essay is that God himself showed King the Promised Land, so he could describe it to his followers and imbue them with the will to keep moving and continue to shout their message until it is heard. By starting with this close to the beginning of the essay, King establishes himself as an important man, one chosen by God, so the people should listen to him. A rhetorical feature present in the ethos is religious allusion, specifically when he says, "I just want to do God's will. And He has allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. I've seen the promised land. "

The overall trend in ethos in the piece is similar to the above example as evidenced by the moment where he says, "I want to thank God, once more, for allowing me to be here with you." This patter of ethos contributes chiefly to the theme that this movement is a God send, that God is on the side of King and his followers. Additional rhetorical features used to create ethos in this piece are reference to his own importance, as well as the importance of his followers, specifically when he refers to the audience as "we" but also says things like "from all over the states, and the world, kind letters came in" in reference to the aftermath of his first attempted assassination.

The speaker does see the audience as an equal as evidenced by the moment where he says "Let us rise up tonight with great readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. This relationship with the audience connects to the subject matter and this is important to note in terms of the purpose because King wants to persuade his audience to continue on with the movement, and he needs to foster a connection with the audience to make them listen to his words and create a sense of ethos.

In this work, King's personal context is evidenced when he mentions the pivotal phrase, "I have a dream" in connotation with racial injustice in the South, which he has experienced and been privy to, such as police brutality and segregation. The appeals to which this contributes are pathos and ethos. This information contributes to the purpose of this piece by, once again, placing King squarely at the center of them movement and establishes him as a leader of it, which they people should follow. He is central and knowledgeable, so he can be trusted to know if the movement must continue on.

In this work, King's social context is evidenced when he mentions how all men are united under God: "we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual." The appeal to which this contributes is pathos. This information contributes to the purpose of the piece by revealing that the ultimate goal is to have the world United, but they are not there yet and so they must continue to push on.

Metaphors/similes are used heavily in this piece, beginning with the following example: the "check" that the African Americans have come to cash, which suggests that the writers of the Declaration of Independence wrote a promissory note that promised all men (including black men) the rights of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness." It came back marked "insufficient funds." The frequency suggests that the speaker wants to really hit home his message, wants the people to understand the importance of what he is saying so he is making it beautiful, using words that will stick in the minds of the audience. The speaker compares freedom to something that can be exchanged like money; something that can be withheld and is tangible like a check. This choice suggests that King sees freedom as something they have already been given, but something that is still being withheld from them unjustly and supports the purpose by making a not so subtle point that because this freedom is still withheld, the people cannot stop until they have what they were promised.

Typically, King employs anecdote as a rhetorical feature regularly. A particular anecdote that stands out is the one about when King was stabbed by a "demented black woman" on the "edge of his aorta." He describes the aftermath and all the letters he received and how "if he would've sneezed, he would've died." This story serves the appeals of ethos and pathos because people are moved by the survivor story but also the addition of how he received letters from "all over the country and all over the world" and how he did survive and knows what it is like to be on the brink of death lends him credibility. It contributes to a tone of awe connotation with the life he has been given by God to lead and ultimately contributes a sense of truth to the overall purpose of the piece.

Another anecdote that stands out is the one about how "the Almighty said to [him]" "what age would he want to live in" and he discusses how he would go through time and see all the advances there and choose to live in the second half of the 20th century. The story serves all the appeals (pathos, logos, and ethos) because it talks about how God asked him, which makes him important, and it talks about history and ends with a pathos appeal as he exemplifies that he would still choose this century because of how important he thinks it is. It contributes to a tone of importance and ultimately contributes a setting for the movement that heightens the overall purpose of the piece.

Parallelism is used heavily in the piece, beginning with the following example: "One hundred years, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land." The framework of the parallel structure is created with the phrase "one hundred years later." The framework highlights the concept of how long rights have been withheld from African Americans and how this movement has been boiling under the surface for that long and supports the purpose by making a not so subtle point that the African Americans are continuing a long battle with the Civil Rights Movement.

There are 6 categories of diction in this piece - historic, religious, equality, dark, awesome, and regional. Religious diction is exemplified by the words: "hallowed," "God's children," "brotherhood," "faith," "the glory of the Lord," "prodigious," "all God's children." This contributes most to the appeal of pathos because King is trying to say that God will carry them through this, which is a comforting sentiment. This choice contributes to a tone of righteousness and supports the purpose by making a subtle statement that God is the reason they need to continue this movement, because they need to achieve the equality here that they are in his eyes.

Maya Angelou's use of pathos in "Voices of Respect" begins with the words, "African Americans as slaves could not even claim to have won the names given to them in haste and given without a care, but they pridefully possessed a quality which modified the barbarism of their lives." It is necessary to do this at this point in the essay because it is the beginning of her essay and it structures the essay so that they audience holds the essay in the scope of the emotional subject of overcoming slavery. This allows the audience to be more likely to see the story with importance and heed Angelou's warning of the necessity of respect in the African American community more carefully. A rhetorical feature present in this pathos is regionalism, when she says, "African Americans as slaves" because it is mostly about the customs and traditions, as well as oppression of African Americans slaves, coming from Africa.

The overall trend of pathos in the piece is similar to the above example as evidenced by the moment where she says "those terms used throughout the slave communities had had their roots in the African worlds from which the slave had been torn, but under bondage they began to have a greater meaning and a more powerful impact." This pattern of pathos contributes chiefly to a tone of empowerment. Additional rhetorical features used to create pathos in the piece are a connection to the audience, a motif of perseverance, and anecdote, specifically when she says, "We have used these terms to help us survive slavery, its aftermath, and today's crisis of revived racism."

Angelou's use of logos in "Voices of Respect" begins with the words, "in the slave society Mariah became Aunt Mariah and Joe became Uncle Joe." It is necessary to do this at this at this point in the essay because it reinforces Angelou's pathos appeal by giving more historical evidence that enforces the context, thusly giving a great example of when respect triumphed in history and why Angelou's readers must try and foster the same thing today. A rhetorical feature present in the logos is loving diction, specifically when she utilizes words such as "speak sweetly, "a conversation between friends," and "a little tenderness" which work in tandem with the familial nicknames.

The overall trend of logos in the piece is different from the above example as evidenced by her usage of more implied historical statements without real evidence, like the moment where she says, "They had little chance for amicable exchange in the rows of cotton and the stands of sugarcane." This pattern of logos contributes chiefly to a theme of the ingrained history of racism. Additional rhetorical features used to crate logos in the piece are formal tone, reference, and deduction, specifically when she says the youth "make exodus into streets filled with violent self-revolution and an exploding vulgarity."

Angelou's use of ethos in "Living Well, Living Good" begins with the words "That story has stayed with me for nearly thirty years, and when a tale remains fresh in my mind, it almost always contains a lesson which will benefit me." It is necessary to do this at this point in the essay because it adds validity to the whole of the Aunt Tee story and alludes to its importance in the context of Angelou's life, so it adds to the credibility of why she is telling it, which is to serve as a real life example of money not being able to buy happiness. A rhetorical feature present in the ethos is utilizing a balance of first and second person, specifically when she says, "I realize that living well is an art which can be developed. Of course, you will need the basic talents to build upon..."

The overall trend of ethos in the piece is similar to the above example as evidenced by the moment where she says, "Living life as art requires a readiness to forgive. I do not mean that you should suffer fools gladly, but rather remember your own shortcomings..." This pattern of ethos contributes chiefly to an all-knowing tone. Additional rhetorical features used to create ethos in the piece are the portrayal of life lessons combined with didactic diction, specifically when she says, "My dears, I draw the picture of the wealthy couple standing in a darkened hallway, peering into a lighted room where black servants were lifting their voices in merriment and camaraderie, and I realize that living well is an art which can be developed."

The speaker does see the audience as an equal as evidenced by the moment where she says, "Because of the routines we follow, we often forget that life is an ongoing adventure." This relationship with the audience connects to the subject matter and this is important to note in terms of the purpose because Angelou is saying that even she, who has heard Aunt Tee's tale from a young age, forgets to live life in the context of being happy rather than being wealthy or living in abundance. She is saying that it is something she must also remember, so it is a good life lesson for everyone.

The speaker does not see the audience as an equal as evidenced by the moment where she says, "I realize that living well is an art which can be developed. Of course, you will need the basic talents to build upon..." This relationship with the audience connects to the subject matter and this is important to note in terms of the purpose because she sort of distinguishes herself as someone who knows a thing or two about the correlation between money and happiness, which is why she is teaching it to you. She utilizes Aunt Tee's story to elaborate that this was a lesson she had to learn and now those who don't know it must learn it as well so they can be happy.

In this work, Angelou's personal context is evidenced when she says, "My dears, I draw the picture of the wealthy couple standing in a darkened hallway, peering into a lighted room where black servants were lifting their voices in merriment and camaraderie, and I realize that living well is an art which can be developed." The appeals to which this contributes are ethos and pathos. This information contributes to the purpose of the piece by suggesting that Angelou learned something from this story as well, and that is why it was so important for her to share and why she wants the audience to get a message from it as well.

In this work, Angelou's social context is evidenced when she mentions, in first person inclusive, her connection to "slavery, its aftermath, and today's crisis of revived racism" and her part in teaching children in the African American community to respect. The appeals to which this contributes are, again, ethos and pathos. This information contributes to the purpose of this piece because it exemplifies that Angelou has a strong connection to this issue and has words to say on it because of her race, words that are more valid than say, a white man, because she has actively been a part of this issue and combating it so that is why people should listen to her.

Typically, Angelou employs anecdotes as a rhetorical feature regularly. A particular anecdote that stands out is the one about her Aunt Tee and the gatherings she would have with her friends where they "danced" and "listened to records" and "laughed" which attracted the attention of her rich white employers who had everything she didn't but were more happy to "just watch" their festivities. This story serves the appeal of logos because it is a real experience that happened and serves as a great example of why money can't buy happiness. It contributes to a tone of irony and ultimately contributes a necessary element in explaining and providing evidence for the overall purpose of the piece.

Anecdote that stands out is the one about how the African American slaves used "formally familial terms" to "modify the barbarism of their lives." This story serves the appeal of pathos because it contributes a heart-wrenching element to the evidence Angelou provides to make her point. It contributes to a tone of empowerment and ultimately contributes sufficient evidence to provide the audience with why they should be listening to Angelou's message.

Henry David Thoreau's use of pathos in "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For" begins with the words, "This was an airy and unplastered cabin, fit to entertain a traveling god, and where a goddess might trail her garments." It is necessary to do this at this point in the essay because Thoreau is beginning to talk about his cabin in the woods and what made it so special for him, so he needs to pull the reader in so they will believe that nature is better than civilization. A rhetorical feature present in this pathos is godly imagery, specifically when he says, "The winds which passes over my dwelling were such as a sweep over the ridges of mountains, bearing the broken strains, or celestial parts only, of terrestrial music. The morning wind forever blows, the poem of creation is uninterrupted; but few are the ears that hear it. Olympus is but the outside of the earth everywhere."

The overall trend of pathos in the piece is similar to the above example as evidenced by the moment where he says, "Where I lived was as far off as many a region viewed nightly by astronomers. We are wont to imagine rare and delectable places in some remote and celestial corner of the system, behind the constellation of Cassiopeia's Chair, far from noise and disturbance." This pattern of pathos contributes chiefly to the all-important tone. Additional rhetorical features used to create pathos in the piece are metaphors, anecdotes, and regionalism, specifically when he says, "When I looked across the pond from this peak toward Sudbury meadows, which in time of flood I distinguished elevated perhaps by a mirage in their seething valley, like a coin in a basin, all the earth beyond the pond appeared like a thin crust insulated and floated even by this small sheet of interverting water, and I was reminded that this on which I dwelt was but dry land."

Thoreau's use of logos in "Slavery in Massachusetts" begins with the words, "Though the Fugitive Slave Law had not been the subject of discussion on that occasion, it was at length faintly resolved by my townsmen, at an adjourned meeting, as I learn, that the compromise compact of 1820 having been repudiated by one of the parties, 'Therefore... the Fugitive Slave Law must be repealed." It is necessary to do this at this point in the essay because it gives evidence to what Thoreau is going to talk about and why he should be taken seriously (because he knows facts). A rhetorical feature present in the logos is historical knowledge, specifically through Thoreau's knowledge of the subject and lawyer jargon, such as when he says, "the Boston Court is full of armed me, hold prisoner and trying a MAN, to find out if he is not really a SLAVE."

The overall trend of logos in the piece is similar to the above example as evidenced by the moment where he says, "I have read a recent law of this State, making it penal for 'any officer of the Commonwealth' to 'detain, or aid in the... detention,' any where within its limits, 'of any person, for the reason that he is claimed as a fugitive slave.'" This pattern of logos contributes chiefly to a tone of righteousness. Additional rhetorical features used to create logos in the piece are personification and facts, specifically when he says, "The Liberator and the Commonwealth were the only papers in boston, as far as I know, which made themselves heard in condemnation of the cowardice and meanness of the authorities, of that city, as exhibited in '51.

Thoreau's use of ethos in "Slavery in Massachusetts" begins with the words, "I think that I could manage to get along without [a Governor]. If he is not of the least use to prevent my being kidnapped, pray of what important use is he likely to be to me?" It is necessary to do this at this point in the essay because it turns the facts into something that can beef up his credibility and make his audience want to listen to him. He is interpreting the facts to make valid points so that his audience considers the viewpoint that the Government is wrong and should be fought against in an agreeable light. A rhetorical feature present in ethos is metaphor, specifically when he says, "I could with an effort pardon the cockerels of Concord for crowing still, for they, perchance, had not been beaten that morning; but I could not excuse this rub-a-dub of the 'trainers.'"

The overall trend of ethos in the piece is different from the above example as evidenced by the moment where he says, "Perhaps I do not know what are the duties of a Governor ; but if to be a Governor requires to subject one's self to so much ignominy without remedy, if it is to put a restraint upon my manhood, I shall take care never to be Governor of Massachusetts." The pattern of ethos contributes chiefly to theme of Government stupidity. Additional rhetorical features used to create ethos in the piece are first person, accusation, and exclamation, specifically when he says, "I do not wish to believe that the courts were maid for fair weather, and for very civil cases merely, -- but think of leaving it to any court in the land to decide whether more than three millions of people, in this case, a sixth part of a nation, have a right to be freemen or not!"

Thoreau does not see the audience as an equal as evidenced by the moment when he says, "To be awake is to be alive. I have never yet met a man who was quite awake. How could I have looked him in the face?" This relationship with the audience connects to the subject matter and this is important to note in terms of the purpose because it showcases why Thoreau thought that his dedication to nature deserved an 8 page essay: he had a lot of things to communicate to his audience about nature which he believed would be best explained to someone, things which he believed he had a superior knowledge of as evidenced by his writing.

Metaphors/similes are used heavily in this piece beginning with the following example: "Such was my abode, for I found myself suddenly neighbor to the birds; not by having imprisoned one, but having caged myself near them." The frequency suggests that Thoreau wants to eloquently explain his thoughts, and by utilizing beautiful imagery in his metaphors and similes, Thoreau paints an appealing picture on nature for his audience so they might want to come join him in this paradise. The speaker compares living in nature and feeling at one with it to caging himself like a bird, with them. The choice suggests that just saying "I felt at home in nature" wasn't quite as poetic and didn't do quite what he thought was just for a description connected to nature and supports the purpose by making a not so subtle point that nature is where man belongs, immersed in nature.

Personification is used heavily in this piece, beginning with the following example: "I had thought the house was on fire, not the prairie; but though several of the citizens of Massachusetts are now in prison for attempting to rescue a slave from her own clutches." The frequency suggests that Thoreau is passionate about Massachusetts and her court being the subject of this piece and one entity. The speaker personifies Massachusetts. This choice suggests that Thoreau wants Massachusetts to be seen as if a person, and to be held accountable like one would hold accountable one person for wrongdoings and supports the purpose by making a subtle point that Massachusetts is the true enemy, as well as the government and one should go against them as they would if they were only dealing with one person.

Typically, Thoreau employs anecdotes as a rhetorical feature moderately. A particular anecdote that stands out is the one about Thoreau choosing his cabin, with great detail, until he found one worthy of "gods" and "goddesses." The story serves the appeal of ethos because it shows the great detail he went to choose his nature home, so he should know what he is looking for. It contributes to a tone of righteousness and ultimately contributes a good starting point to the purpose of the piece, as it exemplifies the reverence with which Thoreau held nature and the degree he wanted his audience to hold nature in the same respect.