Letter from Birmingham jail
She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. Is the word idly used correctly in the sentence above 1) Yes 2) No
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The _____________ of the voters was sure to guarantee the incumbent another four year 1) complacency 2) idly 3) postpone
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Throughout Europe, the 18th century was less an era of stagnation than of transition. Is the word stagnation used correctly in the sentence above? 1) Yes 2) No
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How can you describe the Civil Rights Movement protests? 1- Violent protests 2- Nonviolent protests
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What is diction? 1- a comparison between two things that are otherwise unrelated 2- an author's diction— the words the author chooses to convey his message—reveals his attitude toward his subject.
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Without any books or proper teaching, the students _________ in their studies. 1) Yearning 2) stagnation 3) Languished
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According to Dr. King, who are the South's real heroes?
According to Dr. King, the real heroes of the South are those civil rights activists who have endured violence when doing what was right.
According to Dr. King, what are the two types of laws?
According to Dr. King, there are two types of laws: just and unjust laws. Just laws are those that people have a moral responsibility to obey. Unjust laws are codes that do not align with moral laws and degrade human beings or the human condition
In paragraph 5, mark details that reveal what King is apologizing for.
As I read paragraph 5, I notice that Dr. King expresses regret that there must be demonstrations in Birmingham and for the underlying causes of those demonstrations. He apologizes because he is about to state the clergymen's failure in knowing the reasons behind the demonstrations.
what can we infer about dr. King's attitude and mindset based on the language he uses?
Dr. King chose to behave respectfully toward his fellow clergymen while he answered their criticisms of his actions.
Why does King revisit this word? What is he trying to show or explain?
Dr. King is demonstrating that the word tension can have positive and negative meanings, and making a distinction between "violent tension" and "creative tension."
Formulate conclusions about the importance of using quotation marks in the text.
Dr. King points out the difference between "legal" and "right," and states that it is right to break unjust laws. He notes the difference between the "order" created by obedience to unjust laws and the "positive peace" created by justice. He asserts that justice is never "convenient."
What can a reader infer from what is quotation marked?
Dr. King puts these words, phrases, and sentences in quotation marks because he wishes to draw them to the attention of his readers so that they might examine them.
What is the effect of King's describing himself like this at the very end of his letter?
Dr. King recognizes that the letter is long. His circumstances make it so that he cannot join the peaceful demonstrations he calls for in the letter.
What do these details(king differentiating himself from black nationalist) tell you?
Dr. King regards the black nationalist as being in opposition to Christianity, and created by despair. Dr. King, in contrast, thanked God and his church for helping him to recognize nonviolent protest as the best way for the Civil Rights movement to achieve its ends.
Why would King express his apology in this way?
Dr. King uses the respectful tone of an apology as a way of respectfully correcting the clergymen for overlooking the root causes of the demonstrations.
Formulate conclusions about the importance of these details (king differentiating himself from black nationalist) in the text.
Dr. King wanted people to know that he regarded his role in the Civil Rights movement as an essential part of his duty as a minister of the church. Unrest and discontentment in the African-American community took many forms in the 1960s, and Dr. King wanted people to understand that, unlike other action groups, the Civil Rights movement was dedicated to nonviolence and looked to the Bible and the church to authorize its just demands.
What does King want his readers to understand about the target or point of his criticism?
Dr. King wants his readers to understand that he wants to stay with the church. He is demonstrating his disappointment with the inaction of church leaders regarding the issue of civil rights.
formulate conclusions about the importance of using non-confrontational approach
Dr. King was not only addressing these clergymen. He was writing a public letter that would be read by millions of people, who would judge it not only on its merits as an answer to the criticisms expressed by those clergymen but by Dr. King's tone as he framed his answer
How does this approach emphasize what King believes is the real problem to address?
Dr. King's approach changes the focus from the demonstrations themselves to the underlying causes of the demonstrations, which are the problems he feels need to be addressed.
Why does King present his religious credentials and emotions so emphatically?
I think that Dr. King adds these details to show his history with the church. He is not attacking the church as an outsider, but questioning its actions as a person who loves the church. By noting only two small examples of any white church's support for civil rights, Dr. King emphasizes how little the white clergy has done to address injustice and inequality.
In this letter, what is King attempting to persuade his listeners to think or do? Explain
In his essay, King is trying to convince readers of the need for direct action in the Civil Rights movement.
In the first paragraph, what reasons does King give for his confidence ni the outcome of the struggle? (b) Infer Why do you think he emphasizes his attitude about that outcome? Explain.
King believes that his fellow clergy are "men of good will" and will do the right thing. (paragraph 1) DOK 2 (b) He emphasizes his attitude about that outcome because it puts pressure on the clergy to join him in this fight.
Why si Dr. King more concerned with the attitudes of "white moderates" than he si with those of outright enemies of integration? Explain.
King is more concerned with the "white moderate" clergy because they are not doing anything with their good intentions. He considers these people much more frustrating than those who misunderstand the cause and reject its principles. (paragraph 23) DOK 2
What part of his character is King emphasizing in this paragraph( his curcumistances in jail)?
King reminds the clergymen and the other readers of the letter that he is sitting in a jail cell in enforced solitude and idleness. He is clearly aware of the larger audience and the effect this description of his circumstances will have on them.
idly
Lazily
who are the leaders of the civil rights movement?
Martin Luther king
What is motivation?
Motivation is the reason or reasons for a speaker's actions. This motivation may come from internal causes such as loneliness or jealousy, or from external causes such as danger or poverty. Most motives are a combination of internal and external factors
Letter from Birmingham Jail" can be considered a
Persuasive essay
What does "rhetoric" mean?
Rhetoric: is the art of effective persuasion whether through speech or writing.
What is the effect of King's effort to clarify what he means in using this word?
The effect is one of "tension" itself. Its repetition builds in the mind and makes it more memorable. →.we all tend to link the word "tension" to negative connotations, however, King tries to brainwash us into learning a new connotation for the word, which is positive.`
According to Dr. King, what are the four basic steps that a nonviolent campaign must follow?
The four basic steps that a nonviolent campaign must face are 1) collection of the facts to determine whether injustices actually exist; 2) negotiation; 3) self purification; and 4) direct action.
How is King attempting to redefine what the word "extremist" means?
The word ("extremist") was intended to damage Dr. King's reputation, but the effect of his close examination is to make it not only harmless but honorable.
What qualities do these historic figures have in common?
These were some of the greatest people in history, including many biblical figures and great statesmen. Each was working to change the world in an important way.
What is Diction?
What is Diction? an author's diction— the words the author chooses to convey his message—reveals his attitude toward his subject.
Reread paragraphs 13-18. How does Dr. King explain his decision to break the aw?
While Dr. King urges people to obey the Supreme Court's desegregation laws, he justifies the breaking of laws that are "unjust." He describes unjust laws as ones that do not meet with moral law and are degrading to "human personality." (paragraphs 15-16)
Why was "Letter from Birmingham Jail" written?
While in prison, MLK reads an article in the newspaper which criticizes his activism in the Civil Rights Movement an accuses it of violence. MLK writes a letter in response to the white clergymen who wrote the article.
Allusion
a brief, unexplained reference to a well-known person, historical event, organization, literary work, or place Example: We all got the feeling that we were not in Kansas anymore. (reference to The Wizard of Oz)
Antithesis
a form of parallelism that emphasizes strong contrasts Example: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.
Postpone
delay
languished
grown weak; lived under distressing conditions
stagnation
state of being inactive and not moving or changing
complacency
state of unthinking or satisfied acceptance
yearning
strong desire; longing
