Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Devices

1298 Words6 Pages

Bailey Panas
Mrs. Grillo
10H:5
14 April 2023
Rhetorical Analysis Of The Gettysburg Address
How long is four scores and seven years ago? It is November 19, 1863 and four scores and seven years ago references 87 years prior, when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. On this day, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech to the citizens of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The setting was emotional due to the current state of the Civil War. Lincoln's tone was solemn and reflective to summon feelings of humbleness, comfort, and inspiration. The purpose of his speech was to dedicate a plot of land to the Soldier’s National Cemetery and to remind and encourage the American people that their sacrifices from the Civil War would result in the abolition …show more content…

In this article, Dlugan listed five lessons to learn from the Gettysburg Address. In one lesson, he discusses the importance of repetition of words in a speech. The author notes that in his 271-word speech, Lincoln used the word we, 10 times, here, 8 times, dedicate(d) 6 times, and nation, 5 times. It was noted that repeating these words throughout his address, in combination with other rhetorical devices, sent a clear and concise message and created a more memorable speech that would not be forgotten. He further discusses the authenticity of the speech and how Lincoln increased his credibility with his audience simply by connecting the meaning of the Declaration of Independence, a trusted document, with parts of his speech …show more content…

His speech demonstrated true leadership of the United States and inspired people all over the country, which was difficult to do during a solemn time of war. The use of Lincoln’s rhetorical devices and his logical fallacies brought integrity, credibility, and inspiration. His words portrayed him as authentic and genuine. As a result, he was able to inspire the American people who continued his vision of striving for equality through future social movements such as the Civil Rights