The Foundation To A Successful Presentation

“Monkey see, monkey do”. This phrase is the intended response from an audience following a presentation. What the audience feels, hears, recalls, and visualizes can be taken away with them and be applied to their own lives. Take a style of presentation, a speech. Speeches that are successful. Speeches that are successful use literary devices. A presentation is simply just another form of communication. Success is an opportunity, an outcome. I will argue that in the speeches of Robert F. Kennedy’s “On the Mindless Menace of Violence”, Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream”, and John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, each speaker uses literary devices such as, historical and biblical references, imagery, and repetition to formulate success in each of their presentations.

One does not always have to be a noble icon to deliver a successful presentation. If one speaks, all will hear, many will listen, and some will act. Historical and biblical references are strong forms of literary devices. Historical references include quotes by well-known individuals, or even major events in history’s time. Biblical references are allusions or direct quotes from the Bible or another religious influence. These literary devices are used to make a responsive connection with the audience on a personal level. In establishing this connection, the audience will recognize something familiar to them within the speech, and instantly begin to listen in. The first literary device is a historical reference, read in Robert F. Kennedy’s “On the Mindless Menace of Violence”. He reiterates a quote said by Abraham Lincoln speaking, “‘Among free men’ said Abraham Lincoln, ‘there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take such appeal are sure to lose their cause and pay the costs’” (Kennedy, 1968, para. 6).

In stating this quote by Abraham Lincoln, R. F. Kennedy brings a historical piece of America back to present day. Including a historical figure into his speech makes R. F. Kennedy’s presentation noteworthy and persuadable. Furthermore, Martin Luther King uses a biblical reference as a literary device. King makes a reference to the Book of Amos in the Old Testament of the Bible. He exclaims, “No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” (King, 1963, para. 19). Attributed to the Bible, it is written in Amos 5: 24, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5: 24, The English Standard Version). By using this reference in his speech, Martin Luther King gains attention and respect from many people, especially those who practice the Bible, thus, making a compelling speech. Like Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy too, uses a biblical reference in his Inaugural Address. In his speech, J. F. Kennedy states, “[…] Not as a call to battle, though embattled we are – but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, ‘rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation’ - a struggle against the common enemies of man” (Kennedy, 1961, para. 23). With reference to the Bible, it is authored, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing in prayer;” (Romans 12: 12, The King James Bible). Thus far, by using historical and biblical references, it renders the foundation to a successful presentation. Imagery is all around us. Through speech, imagery is presented to an audience verbally; felt and interpreted by the audience through their emotions, imagination, and senses. The objective to using imagery as a literary device in a speech is to influence the audience to assimilate an image or symbol. Imagery is a recurring device seen in Robert F. Kennedy’s “On the Mindless Menace of Violence”. An instance in which R. F. Kennedy uses imagery in his speech is when he states, “For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly, destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night” (Kennedy, 1968, para. 10). Here, he refers to the aftermath of an act of violence to be as detrimental and tragic as the awakening of an explosion in the night. The use of imagery in this sense is highly effective in grasping at the audience’s attention. Likewise, again and again, imagery is identified in Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream”. For example, King states, “This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice” (King, 1963, para. 2). This remark of Martin Luther King overviews the injurious pain and suffering of countless slaves and certainly illustrates this through graphic imagery. He heightens the audience's attention by incorporating imagery into his speech, hence, creating an effective presentation.

In John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, he elaborates on how a nation, a world of people can come together and stand against violence. A case in which he utilizes imagery is when he says, “The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world” (Kennedy, 1961, para. 25). Here, John F. Kennedy uses the imagery of luminosity sparked by the faithfulness and allegiance of every American with the intention to brighten the world. Without doubt, each speaker effectively integrates imagery into their speeches, making for an outstanding presentation. The final literary device in which all three speeches have in common is repetition. Repetition is mainly used to emphasize a point or idea and to grasp the attention of the audience by restating a specific word or phrase redundantly. Repetition is first looked upon in Robert F. Kennedy’s “On the Mindless Menace of Violence”. Kennedy repeatedly uses the term “we”, “We learn … We must … We can” (Kennedy, 1968, para. 12,14,16). This repetition extends his main point across the board, that Americans must work collectively in order to erase the darkness of violence. The same tactic is also witnessed in Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream”. In his speech, King uses repetition to gain an active response from his audience. Often, he exclaims, “now is the time”, “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice” (King, 1963, para. 9).

In view of this, Martin Luther King firmly indicates the importance of acting against violence, together. In addition, repetition is also practiced in the Inaugural Address speech of John F. Kennedy. He frequently speaks, “let both sides”, “Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us … Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors” (Kennedy 1961, para. 16,18). With this, J. F. Kennedy brings forth a sense of unity between not only Americans, but the world entirely. All in all, the literary device of repetition enhances the quality of these speeches. In conclusion, it is evident that literary devices; found in each of these presentations, make it successful. Many speakers and world-renowned icons including, Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and John F. Kennedy, all use various types of literary devices to engage their audience. In “On the Mindless Menace of Violence”, “I Have A Dream”, along with the Inaugural Address the literary devices of historical and biblical references, imagery, and repetition were all incorporated effectually into the speeches, formulating success.