Elie Wiesel Speech

litany

a series of petitions for use in church services or processions; repetitive series

fervently

very enthusiastically or passionately

messianic

relating to the Messiah

transcend

to go beyond the range or limit

opaque

not able to be seen through

anecdote and allusion

the first two paragraphs that tell a Hasidic legend and reference the Messiah are examples of

an antithesis

the comparison in the speech between the future and past is

logos

in paragraph 4 when elie argues that the future relies on the past and vice versa he is using the rhetorical appeal of

metamorphosis

the transformation to a completely different thing

passivity

acceptance of what happens without active response or resistance

aberration

a departure from what is normal

xenophobia

fear of things that are foreign

an asyndeton

"his mother, his father, his small sister are gone" is an example of

an antithesis

"children looked like old men, old men whimpered like children" is an example of

imagery and diction

elie's description of the world during and after WWII specifically in paragraph 7 is an example of

aporia

in paragraph 8 elie makes a statement about how indifference and passivity amplified the victims' despair by using

incumbent

necessary as a duty or responsibility

abhorrence

a feeling of repulsion or disgusted loathing

paucity

scarcity; lack

iniquity

immoral or grossly unfair behavior

debases

reduce in quality or value

chroniclers

a person who writes about historical events as they happen

propitious

giving or indicating a good chance of success

anemic

to have anemia; a lack of energy and severe weakness

pathos

when elie is describing the heartbreaking things he witnessed during the Holocaust in paragraphs 16 and 17 he is using the rhetorical appeal

fanaticism

unwilling or unable to accept a different point of view

Apartheid

a system of institutionalized racial segregation

repugnant

extremely distasteful

eradicated

destroy completely

repudiate

refuse to accept or be associated with

logos

paragraph 12 uses reasoning to argue that memory is important which uses the rhetorical appeal of

paradox

the use of the phrase a "divine curse" in paragraph 12 is an example of a

recognizing and understanding that there are multiple sides to the argument

elie makes a concession to his argument in paragraph 14 by

strengthens his argument as it helps him counter other opinions

elie's concession in paragraph 14

paradox between the responsibility to keep memories and the need to forget in order to survive

paragraph 15 contains a

pathos

in paragraph 16 elie describes heartbreaking moments and conversations during the holocaust which uses the rhetorical appeal of

restatement

"And here we come back to memory" is an example of

call to action

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest" is elie wiesel's