Collections Grade 10 Guiding Questions

Collection 6

“Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.

Read the argument “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. Then,
reread the lines indicated with each question below. Answer each question, citing
text evidence.

1. Lines 2–12: What is one claim opposing King’s work to which he is responding in
the first paragraph of the letter? To whom is he responding, and why is this
audience significant?
“unwise and untimely.” He is responding to the Clergymen. This audience is
significant because they wrote a letter addressing King about his work, however he
responds politely disagreeing with the claims they are making. He is standing up for
the community so things will change.
2. Lines 17–43: King provides three different types of reasons in his letter to justify
his presence in Birmingham: organizational reasons, religious or historical
reasons, and moral reasons. Choose one type of reason and cite an example from
these lines. Explain why the example fits your chosen reason.
“We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise. So I,
along with.... ties here.” This fits organizational reasons because the people from
Birmingham informed them and they said they would participate. When the time
came for this, they did what they said. They were there for the organization that
they were keeping their word to.
3. Lines 17–43: What is a religious reason King gives on this page? Why did King
include religious allusions in his letter?
He included religious reasons because he was using pathos. He made the clergymen
feel something because they are so experienced in that area. It also could be
considered ethos because he is so involved with the religious community, the
clergymen will realize that he is doing it for good reason, his faith.
4. Lines 66–101: Why might King have taken the time so early in the letter to delve
into such minute detail about steps taken and recent events in Birmingham?
To prove the point that they analyzed the issue, and it wasn’t just an untimely
decision. He referred to the recent events to point out that no matter what the
people say, things will not change if officials have the issue in their hands. So, they
take it into their own hands so things will change. It is well thought out, not
“unwise and untimely”, like the clergymen referred to.
5. Lines 104–119: Identify all the instances of the word tension in these lines. In what
ways do the meaning and tone of the word tension change over the course of the
paragraph?
The meaning of tension is initially something negative, but he changes it to a
positive thing. He is not afraid of it. It is important to have tension for things to
change. He uses it in the context that if we use tension like this, things will start to
change. We are taking initiative. The tone doesn’t sound like it changes but the tone
in the text does. He becomes more optimistic as the text continues.
6. Lines 151–179: Identify the parallel structure used in this passage. What effect
does this use of parallel structure have on King’s argument?
It makes King’s argument stronger. He is using different, yet similar ways to prove
his point. It provides a straightforward, yet clever argument. He uses pathos here,
so the clergymen feel for what they must go through.

When you have felt 27 needles piercing in your body every day for years; when you
have to have sugar but people tell you don’t need it; when you have to see doctors
every week just to be healthy; when you have to constantly worry about something
going off in the middle of class or the library; when you have to hold back tears
from getting screamed at over a medical device making noise; when you have to
hide yourself from the world because people will judge you; when you have to
always worry about what you’re eating; when you have to grow up quicker than
everyone else; when you have to become responsible for your own health as a 16
year-old; when you have to cover up because you don’t want anyone seeing devices
or tubes poking out of your clothes; when you have to grow up differently from
every other kid just because of genes; when you have to watch other people be
normal while know you will never be like them; when you have to walk with your
legs feeling like jelly just because you need to eat something; when you have to
endure the feeling of being lightheaded half the time because your doctors can’t
get anything under control; when you have to feel like you're going crazy just
because your mind is so cloudy you can’t focus; when you have to isolate yourself
because you’re scared of what everyone else will think of you if they know; when
you have to constantly worry about what your blood sugar is just because you’re
feeling a little off; when you have to shoot yourself every time you want a coffee;
when everyone stares at you because you’re giving yourself what you need to live.
The you will understand what it’s like to be a diabetic.
7. Lines 183–194: What other seminal document does King refer to in this paragraph?
Which of King’s three reasons for being in Birmingham is supported by this
distinction between just and unjust laws?
King refers to the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954. Historical supports this. He
is using historical context and the final ruling to support the distinction between
just and injust.
8. Lines 205–210: What two references or allusions in this passage were chosen to
appeal to King’s audience of fellow clergymen? Why are these references well
suited to King’s audience?
“I-It”
“I-Thou”
These references appeal to the clergymen because it comes from a credible
source. The statement came from a Jewish philosopher, because it came from a
religious figure, they will take it seriously and make a more convincing
argument.
9. Lines 216–237: Identify the specific examples King provides of either unjust laws
or the unjust application of just laws. Why are concrete examples such as those
King provides important here?
“A law is unjust if it is inflicted…. registered.”
“I have been arrested on charge…protest.”
King uses logos so the clergymen cannot make a counterstatement or
misunderstand him. King is stating facts, so if the clergymen came back with an
opinion, it would automatically be put below what King stated. King used facts to
make a stronger argument. There is no argument, it is clear what he’s saying.
10. Lines 247–264: What allusions are in these two paragraphs? How does King use
these allusions to support his argument in favor of civil disobedience?
The Roman Empire, Socrates, the Boston Tea Party, the Holocaust, Hungary, and
early Christians. King uses these allusions in favor of civil disobedience. He
would have still done the same thing he is doing for all these situations. He is not
changing anything. He is pointing out that these have been happening for a long
time and it is time for change. They are parallel to the current situation.
11. Lines 265–267: What tone does King create through his word choices in these
lines? What effect does this shift in tone have on King’s audience?
It shows that he is disappointed that we stopped fighting for what we need too.
He is doing what he needs to for his community and we should be doing the
same thing. Not letting them walk all over us.
12. Lines 282–290: In his letter, why does King discuss white moderates, who were
generally sympathetic to the cause of civil rights? What implied counterclaim does
King address here?
The white moderates said they cared but they were not acting like it. He
addresses “untimely” and makes a counterstatement. Things need to change,
and they are not doing that right now. This needs to be taken care of, it cannot
be put off anymore.
13. Lines 299–336: Using text evidence, state King’s counterargument to the
assertion that the actions of Birmingham’s African American community
precipitated violence and must be condemned. Explain one example King uses to
address the clergymen’s statement.
“But is this logical assertion? Isn’t this.... punish the robber.”
One example of this is “All Christians know that colored…. hurry.” This quote
refers to the clergymen’s statement about the acts being “untimely”. There is
no time for change. It just needs to happen. There is not a timeline for this.
14. Lines 313–336: Why is it important in these lines for King to address the
counterclaim that African Americans will eventually receive equal rights? Identify
King’s counterargument and cite his reasons.
It's important because he is trying to persuade people to believe what he
believes. His counterargument is that Christians already know that everyone will
have equal rights eventually, it will just take time.
15. Lines 340–363: What are the “two opposing forces” King discusses in this section?
How does King’s discussion of these two forces serve his purpose?
King discusses the force of satisfaction and the force of bitterness and hatred to
show how oppression has affected the black community.
16. Lines 384–410: How does King shift the idea of being “extremist” from something
negative to something positive? How does the concluding sentence of this
passage (lines 408–410) directly address his audience?
He is alluding to great historical figures who could be called extremists. This
addresses the claim that his actions are unwise.
17. Lines 423–429: What words in this passage have negative connotations? In what
way does King contrast these negative words with the positive situation he is
describing?
Filthy, dirty, abuse, suffering, brutality, roach infected. Positive is the white
allies, negative is what they endure for the cause.
18. Lines 446–485: What is at least one contrast between what King expected from
religious leaders and what actually happened? How does the contrast support his
claim and address his audience?
It supports the issue because it is morally right, not just because it is the law.
People expect action from religious leaders which might cause some people to
lose faith.
19. Lines 497–510: What central claim does King make in this paragraph? What
reasons and evidence does he use to support it?
The early church was influential and powerful. He uses the fact that early
Christians would suffer for what they believed in to create change.
20. Lines 540–557: What references to American history are in this paragraph? How
do these references support the idea that African Americans deserve equal
rights?
Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock and Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of
Independence are all throughout history. African Americans have been a crucial
part of the country's development; therefore, they deserve the same rights as
everybody else. They have done just as much.
21. Lines 558–571: What counterclaim in the clergymen’s letter is King addressing
here? What evidence does King’s counterargument provide?
King is responding to the praise of the police force (which he strongly disagrees
with). To back up his argument, he uses specific situations in which the police
have handled situations with violence.
22. Lines 572–585: What words and ideas in this section of the text echo earlier ideas
in the letter, including King’s stated reasons for being in Birmingham?
Moral Reasons = just and unjust laws.
23. Lines 607–608: What two seminal documents does King reference as historical
allusions on this page? What effect do references to these particular seminal
documents have on King’s audience?
The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence links civil rights to the
cause of American independence. These seminal documents influence the
audience because it refers to two things all people in America (even today) live
by. Clearly, the statements and laws made in those documents are NOT being
followed here. They are not treating men like they are created equally. This
makes the reader feel emotion (pathos).