https://doi.org/10.59982/18294359-25.1-rm-19
Public speeches have always been and still serve as a vital tool for leaders and politicians to inspire, persuade, and mobilize audiences. These speeches often transcend the immediacy of their context, becoming timeless samples of human endeavor and aspiration. A key reason for this longevity lies in the integration of poetics into political rhetoric. The application of literary and rhetorical devices such as metaphor, repetition, rhythm, hyperbole, personification and others, makes public speeches highly emotional, sonorous, stimulating and memorable.
The interplay of poetics and politics can be traced back to ancient civilizations where leaders understood the power of language to shape perceptions and galvanize actions. From Cicero’s speech delivered in the Senate after he returned from the exile to Winston Churchill’s wartime orations, history offers countless examples of how poetics has been used to inspire unity, courage, and resolve in moments of great significance.
In contemporary times, the role of poetics in political speeches remains as crucial as ever. If the orator makes a skillful use of rhetorical devices in his/her speech, they can forge emotional connections with diverse, even critical listeners, bridging certain political differences and urging them to take collective actions.
The article explores the key literary devices employed in political speeches and examines the tendencies of their evolution. Assessing the impact of public speeches on audiences, it is confirmed that they continue to shape the course of history and define the legacies of leaders and politicians greatly owing to the poetic elements and rhetorical devices skillfully used by orators.
Keywords: Public speech, literary devices, poetic sonority, persuasive speaking, traditions of rhetorics
PAGES : 192-199