MARTIN LUTHER KING S I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH

READING COMPREHENSION

GENERAL COMPREHENSION

a- Structure of the text

The text can be divided into two parts.Complete

with the appropriate number line.

Part one up to line :

In his dream of America, Martin Luther King

denounces the conditions of the black people in the U.S

in the

past and at the time of his speech.

From line .

to the end :

In this second part he has optimism for their

future.

DETAILED COMPREHENSION

PART 1 & PART 2

) Pick out the following elements and fill in the chart.

People
(nouns/pronouns
etc)

Places
(nouns/names etc)

References to the
PAST
References to the
PRESENT
References to the
FUTURE

They are

b)

c)

of

similar

different

social groups

They are of

similar

different

races

They are of

similar

different

religions

They are of

similar

different

ages

They are

male

female

Write a sentence to sum up Kings interests

PART 1 the past and the present conditions of the Blacks

a)

Tick the correct answers.

1. The title alludes (fait allusion) to

the American Dream.

a personal dream Martin Luther King had.

Justify by quoting from the text

.
2. Line 4 is an extract from the American Constitution.
American Declaration of Independence.

b) Quote the line where the past slavery in America is being alluded
to.

Justify with one adjective taken from that line

c) Which quote from his speech best refers to racism and the KKK
in Southern states of the USA.

d) Explain the situation in Mississippi as described in the text.

) George Wallace, the governor of Alabama, refused to obey the

Civil Rights Act of 1964 which

was voted by the Federal Government. Quote the passage indicating
Martin Luther Kings indignation.

PART 2 the future

a) What is the key word in this part?

b) What is the key word showing that Kings optimism is based on

his religious beliefs ?

c) Pick out all the words or expressions which

give a religious tone

to MKLs speech. Why are Kings images taken from the Bible or
from nature? How can you account for his references to religion?

d) Give the names of the religions alluded to line 48. Why are they
all mentioned?

e) Tick the correct answer and justify each time with an example
from the text.
1. King wants to give his religious conviction to the whole American
people. Yes No
2. He becomes a kind of new prophet preaching from the top of a
mountain. Yes No
3. He wants to be heard by the whole human race. Yes No
f) Why does he quote an old Negro spiritual?

..

g) Pick out the nine American states quoted by MLK .Tick them on
the map.
What do they have all in common ?
naming all these states.

Explain Kings purpose in

h) Match each value with its definition:

brotherhood

A mental picture of the future

The condition of being free

dream

The feeling of expectation and desire

faith
The feeling that men should treat one another like brothers

freedom

The quality of being right and fair

justice
Trust, unquestioning confidence

hope

i) Find 3 adjectives that could apply to MLKs speech. Justify !

..

Task :

Symbolism and imagery : Which devices (procds) does

MLK use to convince his audience?

a) Complete the following table with examples from part one and
two; choose only some examples.
Use of repetitions
of sentences

Use of synonyms

Use of parallel
constructions

Oppositions
and antonyms

Images from the

Bible or from
nature

Metaphors
(2 examples)

b) Explain why Martin Luther Kings style is effective (efficace). (60

words)
c) Would you say this speech is pessimistic or optimistic ? Justify
your answer quoting from the text
d) Would you say MLKs dream has come true ? Use linkwords.
( 60 words minimum)