Question

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Read the excerpt from President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Then, respond to the prompt that follows.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. 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. 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 gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Lincoln's central idea was that the sacrifice of those who died in the Civil War made it possible to protect the rights that were guaranteed to all men in the Declaration of Independence.

In a well-written paragraph of 5-7 sentences, explain how Lincoln used rhetoric to support and develop his central idea. Your response should:

—state the central idea of The Gettysburg Address

—identify and explain at least one rhetorical appeal Lincoln used to support his central idea

—identify and explain at least one rhetorical device Lincoln used to support his central idea

Answer 1

The central idea of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is that the sacrifices made by those who died in the Civil War were essential to preserving the principles of freedom and equality as articulated in the Declaration of Independence.

Lincoln used several rhetorical appeals and devices to support and develop this central idea. One notable rhetorical appeal is ethos, as he establishes his credibility and authority as the President of the United States. He refers to "our fathers" who created the nation, positioning himself as a leader who respects and upholds the principles upon which the nation was founded. This appeal to ethos enhances his persuasive power, as it aligns him with the nation's founders.

Lincoln also effectively employs pathos, appealing to the emotions of the audience. He does this by acknowledging the sacrifices made by the soldiers and their devotion to the cause. Phrases like "those who here gave their lives," "honored dead," and "last full measure of devotion" evoke a strong emotional response, emphasizing the gravity of the soldiers' sacrifices and the nobility of their cause.

Furthermore, Lincoln uses a powerful rhetorical device known as anaphora (repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses) with the phrase "It is for us." He repeats this phrase to stress the ongoing responsibility and dedication required from the living to ensure that the sacrifices of the fallen are not in vain. This repetition emphasizes the need for continued commitment to the principles of freedom and equality.

In conclusion, Lincoln's use of ethos, pathos, and anaphora in his Gettysburg Address effectively supports and develops his central idea, making a compelling case for the enduring significance of the soldiers' sacrifices and the nation's commitment to the principles of liberty and equality.