Question

Read the excerpt from President Kennedy's Report to the American People. It ought to be possible, therefore, for American students of any color to attend any public institution they select without having to be backed up by troops. It ought to be possible for American consumers of any color to receive equal service in places of public accommodation, such as hotels and restaurants and theaters and retail stores, without being forced to resort to demonstrations in the street, and it ought to be possible for American citizens of any color to register and to vote in a free election without interference or fear of reprisal. It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color. In short, every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. In the excerpt, President Kennedy emphasizes his point most by using allusions to explain what equality is. anaphora to emphasize the lack of equality. connotation to create an emotional response to equality. metaphors to compare equality to things the audience knows.

Answer 1

In this excerpt from President Kennedy of the 1963 Rights Address, he emphasizes his point most by using anaphora to emphasize the lack of equality.

Anaphora is a literary and rhetorical device that consists of the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of sentences or clauses. It is used to underscore the importance of certain ideas and to inspire, encourage or motivate the audience. Because of the repetition it is likely to be remembered long since. In this example the President repeats "It ought to be possible", as a way of saying that equality has to be a civil right for all Americans.

Answer 2

When we consider the devices of allusion, anaphora, connotation, and metaphor, and the importance of the speech, it can be assumed that Kennedy most likely did not want to leave anything up to chance by using allusion, connotation, and metaphor because those literary devices leave much up to readers/listeners, and for every reader/listener, there could potentially be a different interpretation and understanding.  Allusion is when readers/listeners make a connection to something else being referred to.  Connotation is when readers/listeners “see” meaning below what is stated.  Metaphor is when readers are able to make a comparison between what is stated and what is meant.  Thus, the use of any of these three devices could potentially hamper the intended meaning, which is probably why anaphora was most likely used—because nothing is left to readers/listeners.  It is a device authors use to emphasize content the phrase precedes.  Anaphora is when a word or phrase is repeated that can be seen within the excerpt as “It ought to be possible.”  Thus, the most appropriate response would be the following:  “In the excerpt, President Kennedy emphasizes his point most by using anaphora to emphasize the lack of equality.”