Rhetorical Devices In Obama's Inaugural Speech

The presidential inauguration is uniquely sacramental: the peaceful transition of power is representative of the strength that has made the United States the oldest democracy on Earth. Every 4 years, a new or incumbent president delivers this address to the nation, setting forth the principles that will guide the new administration, and uniting the nation under shared commonplaces. Each president is given the opportunity to establish themselves as distinct from the presidents before them. In the past decade, we have seen two unique presidents with two drastically different visions of America deliver their message to the United States of America. While both call upon shared national values and the unity of the nation under difficult circumstances, they differ in terms of inclusion and diversity within America. Both presidents deliver compelling arguments that encourage the American people to serve their country in diverse ways.

Barrack Obama’s inauguration speech successfully executed crafty rhetoric to ensure our country that we will be under safe hands. The speech draws from ideas straight from the founding documents and Martin Luther King’s speech to establish ‘our’ goal to join together and take action on the many problems facing our country. As President Barrack Obama begins his speech, He refrains from using ‘me’, ‘myself’, and ‘I’ but instead ‘we’, ‘us’, and ‘together’ to establish ethos. He makes sure his audience feels at his level, and he at theirs. This way he connects to the audience, and in turn, aids his

In the beginning of his speech, Obama discusses his family and their past, how his grandfather served the United States and was a veteran of World War II. He speaks about the name that was given to him, Obama, as being African and how his parents felt that it isnt your name that takes you places and makes you who you are, it your character, strength, and personality. He also descibes his encounters with that he

In his first inaugural speech, Obama uses rhetoric to present his message of creating hope and change in America. He uses ethos by saying words such as "us", "we", and "together" to appear as equal to the audience. This makes the audience feel included and gives them a sense of power and control to create change. To validate his argument, Obama uses logos. He includes statistics about unemployment, failing schools, and costly healthcare, while also referring to the constitution.

The road to becoming president is rockier than a mountain trail. Through all the ups and downs, a Presidential candidate must stay calm and do what is necessary to win. That is exactly what soon-to-be President Barack Obama did back in 2008. Through this crisis-risen scenario, he didn’t budge, he didn’t change, he didn’t back down. He stepped up to the stage, swung, and hit a homerun with his speech by sticking to simple literature basics, and putting rhetorical devices one after another, from start to finish of the speech.

President Obama, like all Presidents before him, delivered a farewell address to the United States on January 20, 2017. As he stepped down as President he was eloquent and it was as clear as ever that he is a master of oration. Obama will go down in history as the first Black President as well as a strong orator who had the ability to captivate an audience through his use of ethos, pathos and logos amongst other rhetorical devices. His farewell address is a perfect example of Obama’s mastery of discourse as it is chock full of oratorical devices. Obama’s message to the American people and to the rest of the world is that it is essential that we maintain a sense of what it means to have a democracy and that in order to maintain peace and

Barack Obama's powerful diction creates hope for the future of the United States with word choices such as “continue,” “shifted” and “ambitions.” Barack’s shift from informal to formal diction constructs an image of unity through the usage of simple, personal pronouns, such as “we” and “us.” The shifts from informal to formal and back appeal to the emotions of the audience because they feel as if Obama is talking directly to them. His allusions to the Bible are sentimental because when he says "the God given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness" he creates a bond between himself and his audience. His words have a motivating connotation that appeal to both logos and pathos. The way in which Barack Obama presents his ideas allows his audience to have confidence in him and his role as president.

This inaugural speech marked the beginning of the second term of Barack Obama as president of the United States of America. It was delivered at United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2013. The event followed the presidential election in the United States and it was very important all over the world, about a million of people gathered outside the Capitol to witness the president's words and millions more from around the world watched him on television (Staff). For first time, a president talked about same sex marriage and gay rights, he also talked about divisive issues such as reform of immigration policies, stopping climate change and preserving a social welfare safety net. Obama showed a progressive and liberal agenda, focused on equal rights and possibilities for all the citizens. The theme of the speech was “Faith in America's Future,” (Caldwell) and he successfully used various rhetorical techniques and resources to influence the audience.

Barrack Obama’s inauguration speech successfully accomplished his goal by using rhetoric to ensure our nation that we will be under safe hands. The speech is similar from ideas obtained from the founding documents and Martin Luther King’s speech to establish ‘our’ goal to get together and take some action on the problems our country is now facing. As President Barrack Obama starts his speech, he keeps himself from using ‘me’, ‘myself’, and ‘I’ and replacing it with ‘we’, ‘us’, and ‘together’ to achieve ethos. He makes sure his audience connects with him directly by making them feel at his level, and him at theirs. This way he connects to the audience, and in exchange, helps his

In 2004, Obama walked up to the podium at the Democratic National Convention as a political novelty. The speech he delivered established Obama as a natural leader and transformed him into a future presidential candidate. Rich in demonstrative rhetoric, its purpose was to unite the American people through nationalism. The exploration of his rhetoric and style throughout this paper will cement why the speech was beneficially identity transforming for Obama's political career.

On the fiftieth anniversary of the events on “Bloody Sunday”, Obama gave a speech filled with encouraging words about how far America has come. Throughout his speech he included various pathos examples. For instance, he stated, “[…] all of us need to recognize, as they did, that change depends on our actions, our attitudes, the things we teach our children. And if we make such effort, no matter how hard it may seem, laws can be passed, and consciences can be stirred, and consensus can be built” (Obama). Obama utilized the word “all” and “we” as if the people were one. As if each and every one of us has as much responsibility as the next and because he does this, some may even begin to fulfill that responsibility. Ethos is another rhetoric analysis, it defines someone’s character or identity and Obama does just that when he says, “[…] who serve in elected office from small towns to big cities; from Congressional Black Caucus to the Oval office” (Obama). Talking about his own credentials, Obama refers to himself when speaking about the oval office because he was the first African American to be elected president.

Over and over he convinces them that “there is something happening…” Instead of promising hope for a better future, he gives reassurance that change is already happening. He focuses on the issues that are most problematic in America and reinforces the notion that “we” can fix the problems together. He adds another repetitive appeal by telling the audience that they are the “new majority.” And finally, he follows that label with a series of encouraging statements that all begin with “we can.” Amazingly, he does not offer any tangible solutions the way most politicians do. Instead, he only points his finger at the listener and bolsters their confidence that somehow positive change is already underway. He appeals directly to every American’s innate sense that they have power within themselves; Obama is simply their cheerleader. Instead of anointing himself as a hero, he convinces them that they are their own heroes. Who could argue with that type of

First of all, this paper will be analysing its context and purpose of Bill Clinton’s speech. On September 5th, 2012, Bill Clinton delivered his amazing speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although his speech mostly consist of logos appeals to persuade his audience in a ceremonial setting, he begins his speech in an epideictic tone focusing on developing the ethos of Barack Obama. At the Democratic National Convention, the Democratic Party and the rest of the Americans witness Bill Clinton proclaiming his support for Obama to be re-elected while stating the reasons why he should be reappointed. The purpose of his speech was not only to express the president’s future objectives but also to show

Primarily, Obama’s victory speech was about his winning the election for the office as the president. President Barack Obama delivered his speech on Nov. 4, 2008, in Grant Park, Chicago. The speech was a powerful, positive, and persuasive, also it inspired the audience. The main point of the speech is to cover three important pictures at the beginning, he drew a comparison between the past and present, by answering a rhetorical question “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible” (Obama 685). Subsequently, he stated the gratitude for his running mate Joe Biden, campaign manager and his lovely family. Also, Obama was formal and candid to describe the catastrophic financial crises that happened in 2008 and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the end of his speech, he painted a big picture of the upcoming change, by giving a comparison of women rights to vote and slavery between hundred years ago and now, also by mentioning and inspiring the younger generation. He also advised the American people to keep moving into the future and the adapting to the progressive movement theme.

Obama uses numerous stories in his speech to demonstrate the prevalence of the United States of America, yet these stories simultaneously allow certain flaws within the political system to materialize. In order to initiate a want for change, Obama provides the reader with images that he sees of America beginning to unfold. It is this imagery and prosperous initiative that might have attracted the attention from Orwell and Didion. Obama is able to hypothesize an optimistic future engulfed by love and truth, as he writes “I believe in change because I believe in you, the American people” (Obama 9). The use of the word “change” provokes a positive connotation from the reader, as a maturing Union is to manifest as politics become stable. George