A Rhetorical Analysis Of Abraham Lincoln's The Gettysburg Address

Decent Essays
Author Abraham Lincoln in his speech “The Gettysburg Address” proposes that we should follow in the footsteps of those who have passed and fight for the nation. The author develops this idea by first explaining the nation's past, the he talks about the civil war and people who have lost their lives in battle , and finally he explains what they should do now to protect the nation and honor the fallen soldiers. The authors purpose is to honor those who have passes in war in order to get others to continue fighting for their nation. The author creates a persuasive tone for people who want to take pride in and protect their nation.

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    During the beginnings of the Civil War, there were people across the nation pleading for unity. One man in particular was the president during the devastating time, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was both elected in the beginning of the Civil War and towards the end of it. He had given his mandatory Inaugural Address' during these two elections and, especially in his Second Inaugural Address, spoke about a certain controversial issue in both. This issue was the division of the United States.…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ask Not... Every president-elect has the job of giving an inaugural address. These addresses are meant to unite the nation behind our new president, and give a little insight into how he will run the White House. JFK’s inaugural address on January 21, 1960, set the stage for one of the greatest presidencies this country has ever known..…

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Leff, M., & Goodwin, J. (2000). Dialogic Figures and Dialectical Argument in Lincoln's Rhetoric. Rhetoric and Public Affairs, 3(1), 59-69. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41940199 Zarefsky, D. (2014).…

    • 71 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    On a warm afternoon in November of 1863 President Lincoln took the stand and gave one of the most well-known speeches in American history. On this day Lincoln dedicated the battlefield cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. His speech came towards the end of the day after a lengthy 2 hour speech from Edward Everret, and although Lincoln’s speech was only around 2 minutes many agreed that his covered the more central idea of the event than Everett’s. One part of the speech that stuck out to people was Lincoln’s “call to arms” when he addressed the citizens of America. In his speech he boldly states “It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    President Abraham Lincoln was a very articulate man and the Gettysburg Address, while rather short, is extremely powerful. This speech clearly expresses his morals and ideals for the nation and his fellow Americans. Lincoln never calls for a Northern victory because he is striving for more than mere battle victory. He mentions all soldiers who sacrificed for the nation and conveying a larger…

    • 64 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Healing of the Divided States; How Lincoln Unified a Nation On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln appeared before his fellow countrymen to be sworn in, taking presidential office for the second time. The capitol building stood before an ocean of American citizens from various demographics, ready to take in his words of wisdom. However, Lincoln had more to say than merely recognizing himself to again be the leader of the American people. He talked about an event that deeply distressed the state of the nation- the Civil War.…

    • 633 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As president amid the Great Depression, FDR had novel difficulties to address. He expected to present himself both as a pioneer and a kindred American, somebody with an objective who in any case partook in the basic predicament of Americans. In particular, he expected to persuade Americans that he had a solid, sorted out an arrangement that they could genuinely put their confidence in. His discourse demanded that similarly that he endured close by the American individuals in the Wretchedness, so they would work nearby him to triumph over it and reconstruct the country to be more grounded than any time in recent memory.…

    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. ”-André Gide. This, to me, defines the parameters in regards to a class and academic project being rewarding; it has to reach further than the surface. For something to be rewarding it has to be valuable and worthwhile. Learning something new, uncovering information untold, and discovering something because of a simple curiosity is what I truly find rewarding.…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    President Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech “The Gettysburg Address” was given on November 19, 1863 about four months after the terrible Battle of Gettysburg. It signified that the men that died for their side (either the North or the South) were courageous and brave, so a dedication was placed in their honor on the battlefield. The speech also stated that a dedication was appropriate, though no dedication could do the heroic spirit of the battle with most casulties (for the Civil War) justice. Abe Lincoln’s address ended on a note of hope that the gallant men would not die for nothing, and the nation would remember them and what they stood for.…

    • 111 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the address antithesis is used to exemplify the soldier’s courage. In paragraph two Lincoln states that even though he is there to dedicate the cemetary to the soldiers, he can’t. He can’t because he soldiers have already taken it. Through their bravery, at the price of their lives they have consecrated the ground, and they will never be forgotten. The parallelism drawn between the facts that Lincoln is there to dedicate land that already belongs, shines a light on the logic behind making Gettysburg a final resting place for the…

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It was a three day battle in Virginia, 90,000 soldiers Confederates against 70,000 soldiers Union in July 1863. Also, 51,000 soldiers from both armies were killed on the battlefield. President Lincoln visited the battlefield to dedicate it as a national cemetery for the fallen soldiers. Where, he gave his famous speech known as the Gettysburg Address. Also, this battle has gave the confederates a great victory but they are sad that there was a lot of people died in the battle.…

    • 81 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Abraham Lincoln is well-known for being one of the most successful presidents of all time. Because of the time period that he was president in, he was forced to deal with a very challenging issue: handling slavery and the civil war. Throughout Lincoln’s presidency, he delivered numerous speeches on the topic of slavery and tried his best to keep the United States together. Two of his most famous speeches came during his two inaugural addresses when he became president. Although his tone and purpose were different for each of his inaugural addresses, both conveyed similar ideas and used similar rhetorical devices.…

    • 1038 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Analyze and explain what this Gettysburg Address means to you personally. In this short speech delivered in 1863, President Lincoln expresses his devout mourn for the dead on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in a inspiring tone. Having finished this speech, I am deeply touched by Lincoln’s good grasp of numerous rhetoric strategies. In this short speech, Lincoln provides insight into the conflicts between the Southern slave states and the Northern industrial states by pointing out that the northern states were fighting for liberty, freedom and democracy. According to Lincoln, it is worthwhile to establish the Gettysburg Memorial Park to mourn for the brave and sacred soldiers who sacrificed their life for the welfare of a nation of liberty, freedom and democracy.…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address was a seminal document in our nation’s history. Lincoln used the opportunity to try and bring a wounded nation back together, employing several rhetorical strategies in his speech. Lincoln wrote his Second Inaugural Address himself. He had already been president for one term and had just been re-elected. He could have used the speech to celebrate himself and his efforts in the war, which was nearly over.…

    • 760 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One month before the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln had surprised his audience with a short speech on the effects of the Civil War and his future as President. In his speech, President Lincoln used rhetorical devices to achieve his purpose. The President used descriptions of the Civil War, comparisons of the two sides of the Civil War, and allusions to God to achieve his purpose. President Lincoln describes how the Civil War was birthed from opposing opinions. In the text, it says, “Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the order would accept war rather let it perish, and the war came.”…

    • 162 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays