Anaphora. An anaphora, as that term is used by linguists, is any word or phrase that repeats or refers to something that precedes or follows it. For example, the phrase “Let both sides” is repeated at the beginning of several paragraphs in Kennedy’s speech. As you read, think about how this anaphora emphasizes Kennedy’s ideas.
Parallelism. Parallelism is a rhetorical technique in which a writer emphasizes the equal weight of two or more ideas by presenting them in the same grammatical form.
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When John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States, he took over the office from Dwight Eisenhower, who had been a much-decorated general in World War II. At the time of Kennedy’s election, the nation was essentially peaceful and prosperous. Tensions existed, however, between the United States and the Communist-run Soviet Union—allies during World War II but later competitors for global influence.
In his Inaugural Address, presented January 20, 1961, Kennedy spoke of these tensions and rivalries on the world stage and set the goals of his presidency. He also sought to establish himself as a forceful leader, a special challenge for him as the youngest man ever elected president. This speech is considered one of Kennedy’s most inspiring. Especially effective are his use of repetition and his references to “liberty,” “freedom,” and other words that reminded listeners of their shared American heritage.
As you read, make a cluster chart to list examples of parallelism in the Inaugural Address. One example has been done for you.
If you were president, what goals would you set for your administration?
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