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A Rhetorical Analysis Of Abraham Lincoln's The Gettysburg Address

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The sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln, in his speech, The Gettysburg Address, describes the devotion that came from the war in Gettysburg, brings the nation together and giving hope and faith to the people encouraging for a better future that is to come. Lincoln’s purpose is to honor and admire all the soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the American civil war. He adopts an optimistic tone in order to appeal to nation’s emotions, of the many lost lives during the war and bringing light to the audience. President Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1861 to 1865 during the American Civil War meaning that he has the knowledge of the war making him qualified person to be giving the speech. Likewise, being elected during that time, being the …show more content…

He appeals to the audiences emotions in this speech by paying homage for the soldiers in the civil war, implying “that from these honored dead we take increased devotion … that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain” (Lincoln, 1863). Lincoln does this to emphasize the greatness of these soldiers, dying so that everyone can be equal, ending slavery and uniting the country. By saying this, it hit the audiences emotionally, making them feel mournful and sympathy towards the soldiers, especially those who had a family member fighting in that war. Moving to the last sentence in the last paragraph, Lincoln’s tone changes from a mournful tone to a more enthusiastic and hopeful tone suggesting, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” (Lincoln, 1863). Lincoln has used anaphora in the phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” to give the audience a sense of hope and victory. In addition to anaphora he uses repetition in the “nation” to make people feel united. The Gettysburg Address was given at the Gettysburg memorial respecting those men that risked they live to bring freedom upon this

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