Question

Read the excerpt from Obama's Second Inaugural Address. Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and half-free. We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together. What type of rhetorical appeal does President Obama use in this section of the speech? an appeal to credibility an appeal to reason an appeal to emotion an appeal to character

Answer 1

Answer:

an appeal to emotion !!

Explanation:

e 2021

Answer 2

President Obama's speech appeals to emotion.  

Though the speech has a logical basis and hence contains elements of reason, yet the imagery elicits an emotional response from the audience. That is why the appeal is mainly emotional. The imagery of blood being drawn shows struggle and unrest, but the imagery of ‘lash’ and ‘sword’ present very different sides of struggle. The usage of the word ‘lash’ suggests slavery, suffering, inhumane conditions and a life worse than hell. ‘Sword’ on the other hand suggests bravery, valour, dignity and martyrdom. Also, there is a lot of subjectivity in the speech. There are many contrasting ideas, like ‘half-free’ and ‘half-slave’. Similarly, making ‘ourselves anew’ suggests how slaves had to adapt to being free, yet try to make place for themselves and how the Whites had to adapt to allowing the Blacks an equal status in society. There are a lot of emotions behind this idea too, like acceptance, courage, relief, empathy, gratitude, frustration, anger, apathy and so on. Hence, the short passage triggers a flood of emotions and succeeds in its emotional appeal.