On the Death of

Martin Luther King, Jr.Robert F. Kennedy

VOCABULARY & LITERARY TERMS

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Vocabularydedicate v. to give up wholly to some purpose;

devoteevidently adv. plainly; clearlypolarization n .breaking up or separating into two

opposing sidescompassion n. sympathy or pityabide v. live, residedesegregation n. the elimination of laws, customs,

or practices under which different races, groups, etc., are restricted to specific or separate public facilities, neighborhoods, schools, organizations, or the like.

DEDICATEAfter beating cancer, Kathy’s mother dedicated her life to finding a cure and raising money for cancer research.

EVIDENTLYEvidently, being that there is only one choice, we will have the chicken for dinner.

POLARIZATIONThe polarization in the 1960s divided people in the United States, dividing racial equality and Vietnam War issues.

COMPASSIONPeople are showing compassion for the people in the Philippines by donating money and sending over many supplies.

ABIDEIf you do not abide by the rules of the school you will receive detention or suspension.

DESEGREGATIONThe purpose of desegregation was

to give blacks and and other minorities rights to do more than before. Same schoolsame bathroomsame drinking fountainCan you name other examples?

LITERARY TERMSTone: describes the author’s or speaker’s attitude

towards the subject and the audience, or reader. The tone of a speech or written work provides the mood, the atmosphere or feeling . The choice of details and words all contribute to create a specific mood. What is the TONE for the following excerpts from Martin Luther

King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech? “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to

the sunlit path of racial justice. “One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the

manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” What is the MOOD for the following sentences?

My favorite team was down by one run in the final game of the World Series. it was the bottom of the ninth inning. The final batter stepped up to the plate.

Tom quickened his pace in the dimly lit alley as the heavy footsteps behind him grew louder. Frantically, he looked around for a safe place but found none.

LITERARY TERMSRepetition: word or phrase used over

and over again for emphasis. Look at the following excerpt from Martin

Luther King’s speech “I Have a Dream.” Identify the repetition and explain why you think he chose to use that in his speech.“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. Now is the time to life our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”

LITERARY TERMSAllusion- in literature, an implied or

indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a” part of another text.Identify the allusions in the speech “I

Have a Dream.”“Five score years ago, a great American, in

whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.”

“This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men, as well as white men, would be guaranteed the ‘unalienable rights’ of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

LITERARY TERMSTheme: recurring idea or insight found in

the story; also known as the HIDDEN MESSAGE. It can also be the LESSON the character learns.

What is the theme of the following fable?A hungry fox saw some grapes hanging

from a high vine. After trying unsuccessfully several times to jump up and reach the grapes, he walked away saying, “Those grapes are probably sour anyway.