Similarities Between Lincoln And Kennedy's Second Inaugural Address

Even though many separate wars, and almost a hundred years separated Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, both leaders had to deal with the America that had split because of it; in their speeches of persuasion, addressing the breaking land, the men used similar literary devices. Despite being born over a century apart, and coming up from vastly different upbringings, both men inspired their countrymen though their inauguration speech. Lincoln, having no proper schooling in his childhood, would teach himself from books he borrowed. There, he learned about literary devices and the art of writing. Even though he campaigned for an idea that half of america hated, and was thought that the people's attention to his speeches would be transient, his

At the time, the civil war was referred to as the Great Conflict. However, Lincoln would refer to this conflict as a war, over and over in his address. By Lincoln repeating “War” 8 times throughout his “2nd Inaugural address” it can be qualified as repetition. We can infer that this same reason can apply also when Lincoln uses “God” 6 times in his address. (2nd Inaugural Address, Lincoln.) JFK would use repetition in a different manner. “To those old allies...To those new states... to those people in the huts…” (Inaugural Address, J.F.K) While the use of “To those” can also be used as anaphora, it counts as repetition as it is repeating an idea using the same words. Also in his “Inaugural Address,” J.F.K repeats “Let both sides, for the first time...Let both sides seek...Let both sides unite…” This is repetition. Allusion in President Lincoln's address happens when he alludes to “The great contest.” Today, we know this conflict as the Civil War. Thus, an allusion is made that we would know the connection between the words. Quotes such as ‘“Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh,” and ‘“the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether,” (2nd Inaugural address, lincoln) are allusions to the most quoted book in history. He does not state that he is saying these verses from the bible, nor does he state who the “Almighty” is. Expecting us to know where these verses and who the almighty is, Lincoln uses allusion once again. J.F.K actually alludes back to one of Lincoln's speeches, the “Gettysburg Address”, when he speaks about how “Divided there is little we can do- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.” Referring back to the famous quote “United we stand...Divided we fall”