Letter from Birmingham Jail

1. It is a Rogerian argument in the sense that there are just and unjust laws, basically there is a
right and a wrong. The form of argument is suited to his overall purpose because it shows that
he is not in the wrong for protesting an unjust law.
2. He uses analogies when he talks of historical and biblical figures like Paul, Jesus, and Socrates.
He makes these comparisons because they each did things similar to what King was doing, for
similar reasons, and were similarly persecuted for it. Paul and Jesus are most similarly related
because of the Biblical background and the letter is addressed to clergymen.
3. Direct action is physically and literally doing something so that the issue can no longer be
ignored and is brought to the surface so that it may be dealt with.
4. He uses emotion essentially when he is talking to his discouraged followers and unwilling white
moderates, probably to renew their passion and to spark a fire in their hearts. I think it does
support his argument, but probably didnt work on the clergymen.
5. That King was disappointed with the white moderate doing nothing and the conclusion that this
was a bigger threat the actual opposition. He characterizes these as confessions to show his
disappointment and cause guilt in the heart of the white moderate hopefully causing them to
realize their shortcomings, and giving them motivation to do something.