Question

What allusion does Dr. King make in paragraph 2 of his famous "I Have a Dream" speech?

Answer 1

Dr. King makes an allusion to the Emancipation Proclamation in paragraph 2 of his 'I Have a Dream' speech, emphasizing the promise of equality and connecting the present to the historical struggle for emancipation.

Step-by-step explanation:

In paragraph 2 of his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech, Dr. King makes an allusion to the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, and declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states. By referencing the Emancipation Proclamation, Dr. King emphasizes the promise of equality and freedom for all people, particularly African Americans, and highlights the unfinished work of civil rights. This allusion serves to connect the struggles of the present with the historical struggle for emancipation.

Answer 2

"Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. "

In the second paragraph he is referring to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which was made a hundred years before King's speech, "I Have a Dream." Lincoln was a huge contributor to the fight against discrimination.

An allusion is a literary device where the speaker or the author refers directly or indirectly to a well-known person, place, event or literary work. In this case it was used to contribute to the message of what he is conveying.