Incorporate Repetition, Allusion, and Comparisons

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In 1851, American abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth delivered an effective and memorable speech at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. The speech, now known as “Ain’t I a Woman?” is effective not only because of its powerful message about the evils of slavery and the mistreatment of women but also because Truth’s passionate use of language helped make a lasting impression on her listeners. Consider, for example, her use of repetition, allusion, and comparisons. (See Sample Speech 12.1.)

Repetition. Repetition—saying certain terms, phrases, or even entire sentences more than once—can help increase the likelihood that the audience will remember what matters most in your speech. In Truth’s speech, she repeats “Ain’t I a woman?” several times. This repetition highlights each of the injustices she feels and influences audience members to consider Truth and, by association, all women deserving of the rights and privileges withheld from them.

Allusion. An allusion is making a vague or indirect reference to people, historical events, or concepts to give deeper meaning to the message and possibly evoke emotional responses. Allusions can also provide grounded context that goes beyond what you are saying directly. In Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech, for example, she uses an allusion: “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again.” She is alluding to the biblical figure Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and upset the harmonious balance between God and humankind. Truth does not take time to explain this story; she knows that her audience will understand her reference and uses allusion to add power and emotion to her message.

Comparisons: Similes and Metaphors. One of the most common and useful tools in public speaking is the figure of speech known as the simile. A simile uses like or as to compare two things. Truth uses a simile to conjure up the images of her strength and fortitude when she states, “I could work as much and eat as much as a man—when I could get it—and bear the lash as well!”

Like similes, metaphors compare one thing to another in a literal way, even though there may be no literal connection between the two. A metaphor presents a comparison as a statement of fact—it does not contain the word like or as—but it is not expected to be taken as a fact. You might use a metaphor, such as “The fog was a heavy blanket over the city,” to add imagery to your speech.