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What is the effect of Dr. King's many allusions and quotations?

A. They show off how smart the speaker is and that they know more than the audience.


B. They inspire and excite the audience, and make the audience feel a connection between the civil rights movement and previous historic occurrences.


C. They make the audience want to be a part of violent protests.


D. They encourage the audience to no longer be a part of the civil rights movement because everyone is already equal.

User Sangram Barge
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2 Answers

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Final answer:

The use of allusions and quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. aimed to inspire and unite the civil rights movement's audience by connecting their struggle to a greater historical and moral context, highlighting the significance of the cause and the need for sustained nonviolent action.

Step-by-step explanation:

The effect of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s many allusions and quotations was to inspire and excite the audience, and make the audience feel a connection between the civil rights movement and historical events that represented justice and moral action. Dr. King's speeches, such as the iconic “I Have a Dream” address, employed prophetic rhetoric, alluding to the Bible, historical figures, and events to galvanize supporters and underline the righteous cause of the civil rights movement. This resonance with prior struggles and the appeal to shared values was not to show off knowledge or discourage participation, but rather to unite and motivate listeners. These rhetorical choices were pivotal in framing the civil rights discourse and placing civil rights legislation as a central political issue in the United States.

In his speeches, King referenced his own mortality, saying, “I may not get there with you,” underlining the urgency and the sacrificial nature inherent to the movement's goals. Rather than inspiring violence or suggesting progress had rendered the movement unnecessary, the speeches worked to fortify commitment to nonviolent protest and the ongoing fight for equality, building on local individuals' involvement and echoing across broader political activism.

User Ritesh Mengji
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Answer:

The most likely effect of Dr. King's many allusions and quotations in his speeches is that they inspire and excite the audience, and make the audience feel a connection between the civil rights movement and previous historic occurrences.

Allusions and quotations are often used in speeches and writing to provide historical context, to evoke emotional responses, and to establish a sense of connection between the speaker and the audience. In Dr. King's speeches, he often drew upon historical figures, events, and texts to emphasize the importance of the civil rights movement and to show how it was part of a larger struggle for justice and equality.

Option A, that the allusions and quotations show off how smart the speaker is and that they know more than the audience, is not as likely to be the effect of these devices. While the use of allusions and quotations may demonstrate the speaker's knowledge and intelligence, their primary purpose is typically not to show off, but rather to engage and inspire the audience.

Option C, that the allusions and quotations make the audience want to be a part of violent protests, is not a likely effect of these devices. Dr. King was a proponent of non-violent protest, and his use of allusions and quotations was typically intended to encourage peaceful resistance and to inspire hope, rather than to incite violence.

Option D, that the allusions and quotations encourage the audience to no longer be a part of the civil rights movement because everyone is already equal, is not a likely effect of these devices. As mentioned earlier, Dr. King's use of allusions and quotations was intended to emphasize the importance of the civil rights movement and to show how it was part of a larger struggle for justice and equality. It is unlikely that his use of these devices would have the effect of discouraging audience members from being a part of the movement.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Yosef
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