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ABSTRACT
Title: Literary and Rhetorical Devices Used in Speeches of
Selected World Leaders
Author: MA. Nguyen Thi Hong Minh
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Major: English Language and Literature
Year: 2015
Adviser: Dr. Luisa A. Valdez
Summary
This study is an analysis of literary and rhetorical devices used in
speeches of selected world leaders and the implication of their
ideologies to the thinking of young people and their appreciation of
literature.
Specifically, the study sought answers to the following questions:
1. What are the ideologies reflected in the speeches of Ho Chi
Minh, Margaret Thatcher and Barack Obama?
2. How are the themes of existence, patriotism, humanism, inner
peace and moral principle manifested in the selected speeches?
3. What devices were used in the speeches of world leaders with
reference to rhetorical devices and literary techniques?
4. What are the implications of their ideologies to the thinking of
the young people and their appreciation of literature? 4

This study employed the qualitative method of research in
analyzing Ho Chi Minh, Margaret Thatcher and Barack Obama‘s
ideologies in the representative speeches chosen. Likewise, this
analysis made use of the sociological and philosophical approaches as
the bases for analysis. This paper also involved content analysis, which
is a systematic technique in analyzing message content and message
handling.
The following representative literary works were analyzed: Ho Chi
Minh‘s Selected Articles and Speeches, Margaret Thatcher‘s Collected
Speeches and Barack Obama in his Own Words. These selected
speeches constituted the primary and twining sources of the study.
Findings
The results of analysis and interpretation revealed that:
1. Ho Chi Minh, Margaret Thatcher, Barack Obama have paid
special attention to the question of human beings; everything for human
beings and everything by human beings. This attitude is reflected in
their love, respect and confidence in human beings, and their efforts to
nurture and develop the skills and talents of all. They themselves have
set an excellent example of morality, and they have instructed to
different groups of people the practices of social ethics. The patriotism,
an important aspect of their ideologies, is deeply shown in their
ideologies. 5

2. The common themes in the selected world leaders‘ speeches
are existence, patriotism, humanism, inner peace and moral principles.
These themes are fully utilized to demonstrate their ideologies. Through
the spoken words in front of the public, Ho Chi Minh, Margaret
Thatcher, and Barack Obama confirm the existence of their ideologies;
they show their deep patriotism; they highly appreciate humanism; they
rely on inner peace, and they urge their people to follow set moral
principles.
3. The selected world leaders have carefully selected different
literary devices to serve their purpose of writing appropriately. Among
the literary tools, the common techniques that Ho Chi Minh, Margaret
Thatcher and Barack Obama employed in their speeches are ethos,
logos, and pathos, and figurative language, symbolism and flashback.
These literary tools have shown their effect in emphasizing their
ideologies and the themes in their speeches.
4. Ho Chi Minh‘s ideology has proved its great values in the
education and training of Vietnamese young generations. His thoughts
has served as the lightning torch leading the youth towards the defense
of the country and the building of socialism in the present context of
Vietnam.
Reading Ho Chi Minh‘s works reflecting his thoughts on different
aspects of Vietnamese life, the youth have opportunity to develop their
appreciation of literature in general and Ho Chi Minh‘s writings in 6

particular. They are also guided toward positive thinking, good virtues
and practical actions for the contribution to the building and defense of
the country.
Conclusions
1. The selected world leaders show their own ideologies in their
speeches. The selected world leaders all wish to build a peaceful and
prosperous country for their nation and expect to achieve happiness for
their people. As the country leader, they also establish norms and
principles so that their people will pursuit their desires.
2. The selected world leaders share some common themes in
their speeches. They confirm their existence, show their patriotism and
humanism towards their countrymen and human beings. The selected
speeches reveal the world leaders‘ inner peace and moral principles
which they have established to educate their people.
3. The thesis also shows that the selected world leaders have
employed all kinds of rhetorical devices including ethos, logos, and
pathos in order to persuade audience. They have also utilized a number
of literary techniques such as figurative language, symbolism and
flashback in their speeches in order to access the public.
Recommendations
1. The academic managers may use this research as a frame of
reference when they prepare developmental priorities, programs,
projects and policies in the educational institutions. 7

2. The working professionals employ this study in the mainstream
of their disciplines, their lives and the world and when they apply Ho Chi
Minh‘s ideology into the workplace initiatives.
3. College instructors of literature may use this analysis as one of
their methodologies in teaching literature specifically the appropriate
materials, media, and literary theories and approaches in literary
analysis in their literature classes and to develop their students‘
appreciation and sense of value in order to guide and allow them to
crystallize and synthesize what philosophy of life is best to learn and to
live by.
5. Students of literature realize the significance of the literary
devices in literary works and may be inspired to treat literature as a
work of art distinguished from other texts through content and form, and
intensify their appreciation of literary works as well as inspire them to
engage in literary analysis as an academic activity.
6. The members of the community may realize, through this
paper, that the Ho Chi Minh‘s ideology is the basic foundation for the
struggle of national independence, the building of socialism and the
cultivation of revolutionary ethics in present Vietnam.
7. That future researchers conduct other literary works in the
veins of the recent research for academic enhancement to have a cross
dissections of views of life and to substantiate the present study.
8