Discuss the quote "a memorable speech holds contemporary worth to society regardless of its time of presentation" with reference to 2 speeches of your choice.

Essay by NrgticHigh School, 11th gradeA-, March 2004

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The speech is one of the best ways to convey an idea or opinion. The quote "a memorable speech holds contemporary worth to society regardless of its time of presentation" is indeed factual. Through vivid and compelling use of words, the speech gives the reader the exact feeling the author wanted. The speech "statement for a television program" by Denise Levertov and the speech "Spotty-Handed Villainesses" by Margaret Atwood makes great use of these devices.

Denise Levertov's speech, "statement for a television program", an unaired television speech communicating the evils of war, holds significant worth to contemporary society. The first descriptive paragraph summarizes the circumstances for which the statement was composed, and quotes the producer's response in rejecting it. The second section is filled with emotion, criticizing the so called "balanced view" of the war and its environmental effects as a king of insanity, and the producer who invited, then rejected her statement of her views as a "little short on sincerity"

One theme that echo's true throughout her statements and persuasive devices are the evil of war.

The themes of anti-war that her text "statement for a television program" proclaims, which was written in 1972, continue to ring true even in today's society. For instance, statements such as Levertov's have contributed to the signings of anti-war documents.

Through the use of triple utterance, Denise explains that the concerns with contemporary issues (war mainly) have torn poetry away from celebrating nature and poetry which is now seen as a poignant contrast to the evil enveloping the world, that is, war. This triple utterance can be found when she says; "to warn, to curse, to gnash the teeth of language". Her use of triple utterance creates much credibility within her argument against the war. Through Levertov's use of rhetorical devices...