Pathos In The Gettysburg Address

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‘’Four score and seven years ago…’’(Lincoln, 1) You’ve probably heard those six words before, right? On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered ‘’The Gettysburg Address’’. Abraham Lincoln’s purpose in ‘’The Gettysburg Address’’ was to persuade listeners to finish what those who fought for died for by treating everyone else equally. ‘’The Gettysburg Address’’ is the most compelling speech due to its use of rhetorical devices.

Lincoln’s biggest main idea in ‘’The Gettysburg Address’’ is to honor the sacrifices made on the battlefield by treating everyone equal. He states we have to make sure, ‘’...that these dead shall not have died in vain…’’(Lincoln, 1) This helped develop the central idea by being the point of persuasion. …show more content…

This helped develop the central idea by pulling at heartstrings. The device Lincoln used for this main idea is pathos and sentence structure. First, he uses pathos when he says, ‘’Now we are in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.’’ This appeals to our hearts because during wars, blood is shed. Notably, he uses pathos when he states, ‘’We have come here 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.’’(Lincoln, 1) This appeals to the heart since people lost their lives; this device moves us to do what is asked. Likewise, he uses sentence structure and pathos when he says, ‘’The world will little note, nor long remember what we have to say here, but it can never forget what they did here.’’(Lincoln, 1) The commas make the sentence more slow and fitting as he continues to honor the deaths. Lincoln’s use of pathos and sentence structure pull heavily at our …show more content…

This helped develop the central idea by making sense. The devices Lincoln used for this main idea are logos, repetition, and diction. First, he uses logos and diction when he states, ‘’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.’’(Lincoln, 1) This appeals to the brain since it makes a valid argument for freedom and the use of diction makes the speech memorable; this makes us agree with his point. Moreover, he uses repetition when he says, ‘’...of the people, by the people, for the people…’’(Lincoln, 1) His repetition of ‘’the people’’ emphasis the fact that this nation was made for the people. Lincoln’s use of logos, repetition, and diction stick words to our heads and connects dots that make us go, ‘’duh’’.

On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered ‘’The Gettysburg Address’’. Abraham Lincoln’s purpose in ‘’The Gettysburg Address’’ was to persuade listeners to finish what those who fought for died for by treating everyone else equally. ‘’The Gettysburg Address’’ is the most compelling speech due to its use of rhetorical

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