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Find examples of the following literary terms in J.F.K’s Inaugural Speech: reversal, simile, climactic parallelism, metaphor.

Here is the answer and explanation to the question Find examples of the following literary terms in J.F.K’s Inaugural Speech: reversal, simile, climactic parallelism, metaphor.

Find examples of the following literary terms in J.F.K’s Inaugural Speech: reversal, simile, climactic parallelism, metaphor.

Find examples of the following literary terms in J.F.K’s Inaugural Speech: reversal, simile, climactic parallelism, metaphor.

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| Certified Educator

John F. Kennedy delivered some of the most memorable speeches in American history, and this one was no exception. He employs some effective literary techniques to develop a passionate call to action in creating a world of freedom for all people. Here are some examples of those techniques.

The following quote uses chiasmus, or a reversal of order:

Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

In the first part of this phrase, John F. Kennedy uses the country first, telling his audience not to ask what America can do for each of them. Using almost exactly the same words, he reverses the order, placing the individual “you” first: Ask what you (individually) can do for America. This strategy is also seen in the following line:

Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.

Again, almost exactly the same words are used, but Kennedy reverses the order of “negotiate” and “fear” to show a contrast.

As for similes, I would argue that his speech does not use a direct simile. Typically, similes use the words “like” or “as” to compare two contrasting ideas, and this speech doesn’t provide an example of this. Though there are comparisons and there are some places where an “as” is used, it doesn’t all work together as an example of a direct simile.

The following quote illustrates the use of climactic parallelism:

Let every nation know . . . that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

This technique uses a similarly structured series of words for effect. In this example, Kennedy has used the basic format of verb + “any” + direct object noun in a series of five phrases. This series of phrases reinforces the strength of America’s determination in its pursuit of liberty.

Here is one example of the use of metaphor:

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves.

Misery and suffering here are compared to a physical bondage (like chains), which needs to be broken in order to fully thrive in life. There is another metaphor in the following quote:

And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor.

In this example, cooperation is compared to a beachhead: open and visible. It is favored to the comparison of suspicion, which hides terrible and frightening things.



| Certified Educator

Kennedy’s Inaugural Address uses the literary techniques of simile, reversal, climatic parallelism, and metaphor. I offer an example of each by using the first few words that identifies where the term appears. If you do not have a copy of the speech I have included a site where you can read the speech and locate the sentences that pertain to your request.

A simile compares two unlike things but allow the ideas to remain distinct.

The world is very different now…

Reversal denotes a new direction:

We dare not forget today…

In your hands my fellow citizens…

A metaphor compares two things equated to eachother:

So let us begin anew…

If a beachead of cooperation…

Climatic parallelism allows one line to repeat into the next until a theme is developed:

Let every nation know…

Let both sides…

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