The Gettysburg Address was given during the year of 1863. During this time period, the bible was one of the main books that was taught to the majority of American citizens. Abraham Lincoln’s speech uses a reference to the Bible through illusion. The line “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth…” from Lincoln’s dialogue was from the Bible. Moreover, this opening phrase helped relate to the public, by communicating through what they knew. Using this as a bridge to personally connect with the people of this nation. While using illusion, another rhetorical was being used. The most famous speech given by the United State’s sixteenth president, uses a rhetorical device known as antithesis. An antithesis is when a word and it’s opposite is used in the same phrase to create a sense of contrast. For example, the phrase “living and dead” gives the sense of inclusion of all people. Moreover, this allowed the public to interpret it has …show more content…
In works of literature, there is a type of linguistic device that enables the writer or speaker to appeal to the audience’s emotions known as Ethos. For instance, ethos is used in line from The Gettysburg Address, “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion” . In this quotation, Lincoln speaks to the people of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania about how they should not let those who died, let their lives be given up in vain. Therefore, he called to the public to continue to fight for the departed and to devote our victories to them. Furthermore, the use of ethos impacts a group of people who are mourning. This rhetorical device is used in many other speeches, including Ronald Reagan’s Space Shuttle Challenger Address to the