Question

2. Read the passage. I must close now. But before closing I am impelled to mention one other point in your statement that troubled me profoundly. You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping “order” and “preventing violence.” I don’t believe you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its angry violent dogs literally biting six unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I don’t believe you would so quickly commend the policemen if you would observe their ugly and inhuman treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you would watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you would see them slap and kick old Negro men and young Negro boys; if you will observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together. I’m sorry that I can’t join you in your praise for the police department. In his “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” Dr. King uses the phrase I don’t believe . . . twice. Which rhetorical device is he using?

Answer 1

Repetition

Repetition is a rhetorical device used to help an author or speaker make one specific phrase or word stand out to the reader or listener. Because the phrase is repeated, the audience remembers it better and that becomes a strong focus of the piece.