An exploration of the qualities needed for an effective speech (using Henry V and MLK)

Three elements are needed for one to perform an effective speech: speaker, audience, and, most importantly, the gift of rhetoric. The speaker must know what his audience wants to hear. The speaker must play off the audience's emotions to inspire and convince the audience of his words. Not only does the speaker have to know about his audience, he must also have the ability of great rhetoric. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, rhetoric is "…

…language in which he intends to drive cowards from his army, King uses words that bind his audience with their "white brothers." Also, the differences in Henry's and King's characters becomes evident: Martin Luther King uses his gift of rhetorical ability to bring about a beneficial change for all of humanity, but Henry V used his talent to bring forth the selfish act of becoming the leader of the French as well as the English.