On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman stepped onto the stage at the U.S. presidential inauguration and delivered The Hill We Climb. Almost instantly, the world took notice. Critics and English teachers alike began dissecting her work, searching for the one device that made the poem so universally resonant. The answer, however, wasn’t a single technique; it was a sophisticated tapestry of rhetorical strategies that transformed a live reading into a cultural moment.
Understanding the rhetorical devices in The Hill We Climb requires looking beyond simple literary terms. Gorman utilized sound, structure, and history to build a speech designed specifically for an audience in a specific moment of crisis.
The Power of Alliteration and Assonance
Gorman leans heavily on the musicality of language to keep the audience locked in from the very first line. She doesn't just tell the audience that the dawn is coming; she makes them hear it through repetition and rhythm.
Consider the line: "We've learned that quiet isn't always peace." This is a textbook example of alliteration, where the repeated 'l' sounds in "quiet" and "learn" flow directly into "isn't always." It’s subtle, but it creates a sonic unity that binds the disparate themes of the beginning of the poem together.
The line is also an example of assonance, where repeated vowel sounds (the 'ea' in "peace" and "learned" creates a soft, contemplative sound that directly aligns with the 'quiet isn't always peace' sentiment.
Extended Metaphor: The Hill
We Climb That Hill
At the heart of the piece lies the central extended metaphor of "The Hill." It serves as a physical and metaphorical obstacle that the audience must overcome. It represents a specific struggle. But what exactly is the hill? It isn't explicitly defined. It could be the pandemic, the attack on the Capitol, or the legacy of slavery. Gorman intends it to be whatever the listener needs it to be, making the specific uniting point of the poem's central motif incredibly flexible and inclusive.
So, when the audience hears, "...The Hill We Climb." the rhetorical power isn't just found in the word choice, but in the cultural memory and shared experience of the audience. This cultural memory is a powerful form of allusion. The poem alludes to the "dawn" as a new beginning for a generation.
The Role of Anaphora
The line "We will rise..." is used in the multiple stanzas of the poem's final sections. This repetition at the beginning of successive lines is anaphora. It’s a call to action disguised as poetry. Each iteration of "We will rise" isn't just a statement of resilience; it moves the audience from contemplation to mobilization.
Key Rhetorical Devices Used
- Alliteration: Repeating consonant sounds (e.g., the 'l' in "quiet isn't always peace").
- Assonance: Repeating vowel sounds (e.g., the 'ea' in "peace" and "learned").
- Metaphor: The central "Hill" as an obstacle to overcome.
- Allusion: References to cultural memory and history.
- Anaphora: Repetition of "We will rise..."
Gorman's use of rhetorical devices extends beyond simple repetition; they form a living history lesson, a call to action, and a moment of collective healing. It shows how poetry can operate as a form of high-stakes public speaking.
