Program: Bachelor of Social Science in 

Media studies and Journalism

Course:
MSJ 11346: Speech Writing and Public Speaking
Section:
1
Semester:
Fall 2020

Assignment: Analysis of Three Speeches

Submitted to:
Wafi Aziz Sattar
Lecturer, Media Studies & Journalism Department
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)

Submitted by:
[Farah Ashrafi]
ID: 173012005

Date Submitted:
28/11/2020
 John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address Speech
The 35th President of the United States was John F. Kennedy, who served from 1961 until
his assassination in 1963. His inaugural speech was broken down into four parts by
Kennedy. Each part is brief and to the point, making the speech encouraging for the
American people. The introduction is concerned with how their founders will still be
remembered by the American people and what they put forward for America's survival.
The body of speech comes after this introductory sentence. The first part is now and then
dealing with American ideals and beliefs, and the second part consists of some promises.
Kennedy leads to the third part of the body of expression, mentioning the two sides of the
planet, where he explains how the U.S. must research all sides of the problem, carefully
considering both choices. In the final part, Kennedy expresses his trust that his fellow
citizens will be able to restore worldwide peace.
The first part, dealing with the values and beliefs of the American nation, is laid in the present
temporal plane generally, which is expressed by both lexical markers (The world is … now; we dare
not forget today; this century, we are committed today) and grammatical markers (the use of
Present Simple tense).

In spite of using the Present Simple tense, the second part of the address refers the listener
to a variety of pledges, indicating the predominance of the future plane here. The use of the
modal verb with the sense of futurelessness in its semantic form emphasizes this.

"The third part of the speech also presents the future temporal plane, expressed by the
numerous use of the verb let, which implies the vision of the future of the author, and the
use of the Future Simple tense “All this will not be finished”.

The fourth part combines different temporal planes: the present (Now the trumpet

summons, etc.), and the future – (Will you join, etc.).

In the introduction Kennedy uses a first stylistic device, parallelism, combined with

the antithesis: “an end, as well as a beginning – … renewal, as well as change.” This
introduces the theme of continuity which Kennedy uses throughout the entire speech.

In the third and fourth paragraph, the president makes use of the theme of continuity again,
which leads to the “new generation of Americans”. Here, Kennedy uses antithesis as well as
an alliteration, “support any friend, oppose any foe”, and a metaphor: “the torch has been
passed”. All these stylistic devices stress the contrast between good and bad, and make it
sink into the listener’s mind. Apart from that, the speaker makes use of climax: at home and
around the world. That can be found throughout the whole inaugural speech as a sort of
leitmotiv, most noticeably at the end when he addresses the citizens of America and the
citizens of the world.
 Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream”

The speech was characterized stylistically as a political essay, a play of poetry, and a
sermon that was masterfully delivered and improvised, bursting with biblical language and
imagery. Alliteration is a hallmark device, used to bang home key points, alongside rhythm
and constant repetition.

The format is simple – always an aid to memorability! It falls into two parts.

The first half portrays not an idealized American dream but a picture of a seething
American nightmare of racial injustice. It calls for action in a series of themed paragraphs.
“Now is the time” is the first:

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now.
This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of
gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to
rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now
is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children. Now is the time to lift
our nation from the quicksand’s of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

Likewise the theme “we can never be satisfied” sets some goals:

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?”
We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of unspeakable horrors of
police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of
travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We
cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger
one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in
New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we
will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty
stream.

The second half of the speech paints the dream of a better, fairer future of racial harmony
and integration.
 Nelson Mandela “I Am Prepared to Die” Speech

First we will look at the subject of the message, which is South Africa's struggle for equal
rights. We will also look at relevant topics such as the use of violence, political agendas, and
contextual issues related to the movement for equal rights in South Africa, as it is a complex
and comprehensive voice. Nelson Mandela, looking at his history and his participation in
the struggle for equal rights and concentrating throughout the speech on the picture that
the speaker conveys of himself. By analyzing the audience of the speech, made up of all
those present at the Rivonia Trial, but also of the target audience indicated by the speaker
by the quality of his speech. The speech language, exploring the choice of words, voice of
the speaker, and the manner in which he uses rhetorical techniques and modes of appeal to
make his claims more compelling. Speech situations, looking at the socio-political situation
in South Africa in terms of racial problems, and taking into account the contextual specifics
included by the speaker. Focusing on the speaker's intentions to deny or correct the
charges against him, while at the same time aiming to further support the South African
campaign for equal rights. By introducing himself, Mandela begins his speech. He says that
he is a lawyer and holds a bachelor's degree. He also addresses his childhood briefly and
how he was inspired to fight for independence for black South Africans by the stories of his
ancestors.

Then he explained the major goals of his statement:

 to correct false information introduced by a witness and the state

 to explain the relationship of the ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe
 to clarify the relationship of the Communist Party with the ANC and Umkhonto
 to describe and justify the objectives and methods of Umkhonto

Mandela denies the charge that immigrants and leftists are under the influence of him and
his fellow anti-apartheid activists. He later explores the importance of communism to his
study of methods to overcome injustice and to strive for political change. He explains that
he is not a communist, but also describes how in their fight for liberty, communists have
become powerful supporters of black South Africans. He says that even if some of the claims
made in court against him are false, others are true. He does not deny, in particular, having planned
acts of sabotage. He emphasizes that he did not recklessly take this action or that he likes abuse.
Rather, after careful thought on their government's oppression of black South Africans and the fact
that nonviolent protest had not helped improve the situation, he made the decision to embrace
violent political actions.