Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Devices

Few moments in our country’s history were more defining than the speech that Abraham Lincoln gave after the battle of Gettysburg. Written during the war that pitted brother against brother and father against son, the Gettysburg Address is an inspiring speech that marked a trying time for all Americans. The two hundred seventy-three words that Lincoln spoke were unique not just because they came from a President’s mouth, but because of the power and detail imbued in every word. The Gettysburg Address was given by President Abraham Lincoln during the dedication of a national cemetery in south-central Pennsylvania. The purpose of this speech was not only to dedicate the land and say a few words about the men who died, but to inspire Americans

For example, a recurring theme in the speech is the idea that freedom is a value of vital importance, which can be realized in the quote, “a new nation, conceived in liberty. . . .” This personification of our nation being conceived in liberty presents the picture of America standing for individual rights since the beginning of the nation. Furthermore, in the closing paragraph, Lincoln continues with the theme by saying, “this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . .” This repeated presentation of birth imagery represents a turning point for the nation as it pertains to the issue of slavery abolishment. Lincoln recognizes that freedom must be reviewed in a Nation that considers owning a person as property within the boundaries of individual rights. Another instance of imagery that struck deeply was when Lincoln described the cemetery as “a final resting place for those who gave their lives that a nation might live.” This quote portrays the men who died on the field of battle as heroes because they gave their lives for a greater good, which perhaps is in reference to Jesus laying down his life on the cross. Although this passage may not be an allusion to that famed event, it certainly was a similarity that in my mind instilled the imagery of Jesus on the

It is obvious that Lincoln is emotional because of the loss of thousands of men, but it is his passionate dialogue about finishing the task that at hand that strikes a chord. Although our sixteenth president is often remembered for being formal and cacophonous, it is plain to see that this speech is of extremely meaningful to him. Since the address was given to mourners and soldiers, the informal diction Lincoln uses establishes a connection with the common man and the figurative language that he uses serves to inspire a sense of patriotism. The syntax used in the Gettysburg Address is somewhat complex, because Lincoln uses longer sentences to create a kind of suspense that holds the reader’s attention. By concluding these sentences with a powerful statement, Lincoln utilizes periodic sentences to keep his speech interesting and