John Lennon Rhetorical Devices

Cover Page - Oratorical Analysis Paper

“Imagine” – Lennon, John

Elias A. Askiogli
SPC-2608
Professor Leblanc
The song “Imagine” by John Lennon was selected as the text to analyze because it is one of the songs that has had the most societal impact of all time. The song changed many peoples’ lives, it influenced their decisions, and made an impact on the majority of society as a whole. This song was written in the year 1971 in New York. It is a song where John Lennon described the world with peace and what it would be like where everyone got along and lived joyfully, together. Lennon was a visionary, and a man who believed that mankind was one single race and nationality; and that religion, citizenship, and borders were created …show more content…
Therefore, the audience would be, the listener. The more specific audience would be the people who want the world peace, and those who want to see the world without harm and segregation. Lennon states throughout his song: “Imagine there’s no heaven, no hell below us, Imagine there’s no countries, nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too, living life in peace”. He means, if there were no governments to tell us what to do, the world would be more peaceful. If there weren’t any religions, people would be on the same accord and wouldn’t be fighting or killing each other. He implies that there should be unity, and one big place where everyone is on the same page. He correlates the events going on during the time he wrote the song, (Vietnam War, Civil-Rights movement, Anti-War movement) to what he “imagines” the world would be without these things he deems horrible through his implications. Lennon believes the world would be safe, peaceful and free from strife without countries and man-made borders or obstacles separating one person from another. He thinks if there were no citizenship, or man-made divisions, this world would be a better place. He asks us to imagine a place where things that divide people (like possessions) do not exist. In his song, he is repetitive, as he asks the same question over and over again with different subjects each time. The song is mantled with repetitiveness, though the structure is quite similar. Each of the verses begins with “Imagine” and answers itself with a comment. Each verse is more challenging than the one before. Giving the audience: “1. Imagine there's no Heaven - It's easy if you try. 2. Imagine there's no countries - It's not so hard to do. 3. Imagine no possession - I wonder if you can. Throughout the whole song, there’s no anger, or frustration. Only concern, hope, and patience. (Swanson, 2013) (Jakarta, 2007) (McClure,

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