Alliteration, one of the popular rhetorical devices commonly used in poems and songs, is very rich in this inaugural speech. Alliteration is most often used in Kennedy’s speech based on this encapsulation. In several sentences, repetitions of the same initial sounds occurred in consecutive sequence, found in paragraph 4, paragraph 27 paragraph 22, and in various portions throughout the speech.
The antithesis is very evident in John F. Kennedy’s statements throughout his inaugural address. The contrasting points and ideas are very noticeable in this part of the speech: “Let both sides explore what issues unite us instead of dwelling on the issues that divide us” in paragraph 15. Paragraph 24, sentence 2, paragraph 6, sentence 2 and paragraph 8, sentence 2 can also be considered as statements reflecting antithesis.
Speech also contains various anaphoras, or the repetition of the same words at the beginning of a sentence, clause, or sentence. This can be seen in the two single sentence paragraphs 15-16 that begin with the phrase “That both sides…”. Other examples of anaphoras found in the text can be found in paragraph 13, where the word “both” is repeated several times, and in paragraph 20, sentence 2, where the word “nor” is repeated at the beginning of the sentences. sentences.
Parallelism is also dominant in the text and can be seen in some parts of the speech. Some of the parallel grammatical structures can be found in paragraph 19, paragraph 22, and paragraph 3, sentence 2.
Other rhetorical devices are also evident throughout the speech. The metaphor can be found in paragraph 24, sentence 4. Diacope, or the way of repeating a word or phrase after an intermediate word or phrase, can be seen in paragraph 12, sentence 2, at which point the phrase ‘no doubt’ is repeated in a sentence. Asyndeton, described as the absence of conjunctions between sentences or consecutive words, can be noted in the sentence of paragraph 4 where a conjunction, supposedly ‘and’, is absent between sentences. Polysyndeton, or the continuous use of a conjunction between each word, phrase or clause can be seen in paragraph 19 where the conjunction ‘and’ is used between sentences repetitively. Kennedy uses an example of anadiplosis, or the rhetorical device in which the last word of a clause or sentence is repeated at the beginning of the next clause or sentence in paragraph 2, sentence 2, where the word “belief” is magnified. Hyperbole or exaggeration for emphasis or aesthetic effect is found in paragraph 4, where the former president stated that Americans will pay any price, bear any burden, and face any hardship, which may not be feasible in all circumstances.
The trademark line, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” in paragraph 25, which is generally considered the most quotable, is an antimetabole, described as repetitive use of words, in consecutive clauses. , in reverse grammatical order, and is sometimes considered chiasmus. Also, amplification, a way of repeating a word or expression while adding more detail to it, to emphasize something, is seen in the famous lines from paragraphs 15-17, where the phrase “Let both sides” head each paragraph.
In some cases, the lines used span in terms of the type of rhetorical devices. For example, paragraph 14, sentences 2-3, where ‘negotiate out of fear’ was artistically used as ‘and never be afraid to negotiate’, can be considered both a chiasm and an antithesis, as it is a statement of contrasting ideas and an inversion. in grammatical order. Likewise, the lines in paragraph 8, sentence 2 employ antithesis and parallelism because it establishes two contrasting ideas presented in a balanced grammatical structure.
In essence, with the summary of findings presented, John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address is a great example of a piece to study if you want to explore various rhetorical devices in one piece. This rich speech, aided by rhetorical resources, is so effectively written, delivered and communicated that it is always proven in history. Due to its prominence and lasting effect on people not only in the United States, but throughout the world, this unique piece reinforces the principle that the use of rhetorical devices can truly generate effective and eloquent communication.