antithesis gettysburg address

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Lincoln’s rhetoric in the Gettysburg Address

Rhetorical Style

A comprehensive guide to the language of argument, Rhetorical Style offers a renewed appreciation of the persuasive power of the English language.

By Jeanne Fahnestock
November 19 th 2013

Perhaps no speech in the canon of American oratory is as famous as the “Dedicatory Remarks” delivered in a few minutes, one hundred and fifty years ago, by President Abraham Lincoln. Though school children may no longer memorize the conveniently brief 272 words of “The Gettysburg Address,” most American can still recall its opening and closing phrases. It has received abundant and usually reverent critical attention, especially from rhetoricians who take a functional view of discourse by always asking how an author’s choices, deliberate or not, achieve an author’s purposes. Of these many studies, the greatest is Garry Wills’s Lincoln at Gettysburg (Simon & Schuster, 1992). It leaves little unsaid about the genre, context, and content of the speech, or about the grandeur and beauty of its language, the product of Lincoln’s long self-education in and mastery of prose composition. But while the rhetorical artistry of Lincoln’s speech is uncontestable, it can also be said that its medium, the English language, was and is an instrument worthy of the artist. Among all the ways that this speech can be celebrated for its author, its moment in history, and its lasting effects, still another way is as monument to the resources of the English.

In its amazing lexicon, the largest of any living language in Lincoln’s time or ours, English is, thanks to the accidents of history, a layered language. The bottom layer, containing its simplest and most frequently used words, is Germanic. The Norman invasion added thousands of Latin words, but detoured through French to create, according to eighteenth-century British rhetoricians like Hugh Blair, a distinctive French layer in English. Throughout its history, but peaking between 1400 to 1700, words were stacked on directly from Latin and Greek to form a learned and formal layer in the language. (English of course continues borrowing from any and all languages today.) It is therefore not unusual in synonym-rich English to have multiple ways of saying something, one living on from Anglo-Saxon or Norse, another a French-tinctured option, and still another incorporated directly from a classical language. Consider the alternatives last/endure/persist or full/complete/consummate . Of course no English speaker would see these alternatives as fungible since, through years of usage, each has acquired a special sense and preferred context. But an artist in the English language like Lincoln understands the consequences in precision and nuance of movement from layer to layer. He chose the French-sourced endure at one one point in his Remarks and the Old English full at another.

Lincolns_Gettysburg_Address,_Gettysburg1

Lincoln’s awareness of this synonym richness is also on display in his progressive restatement of what he and his audience cannot do at Gettysburg: they cannot dedicate — consecrate — hallow the ground they stand on . All three verbs denote roughly the same action: to set apart as special and devoted to a purpose. According to the Oxford English Dictionary , the first two came into English in the fourteenth century as adjectives and in the fifteenth as verbs, both formed from the past participle of Latin verbs. The second of these, however, has a twelfth century French cognate, consacrer , in use when French was the language of England’s rulers. The third word, hallow , comes from the Old English core and carries the strongest association of a setting apart as holy. Lincoln’s progression then goes from the Latinate layer to the core, a progression in service of the greatest goal of rhetorical style – to amplify , to express one’s meaning with emotional force. Lincoln’s series of synonyms, simply as a series, distances the living from the dead, but as a progression it rises from the formulaic setting apart with words of dedicate, to the making sacred as a church or churchyard are of consecrate , to the making holy in martyrdom of hallow . Forms of consecrate and dedicate appear again, but hallow only once, mid-speech.

Lincoln’s deftness in word choice is matched by his artistry of sentence form. Among the often-noticed features of Lincoln’s sentence style is his fondness for antithesis. This pattern is hardly Lincoln’s invention. It is one of the oldest forms recommended in rhetorical style manuals and in Aristotle’s Topics as the purest form of the argument from contraries. The formally correct antithesis places opposed wording in parallel syntactic positions: little note nor long remember/ what we say here // never forget/ what they did here.

A figure like antitheses can be formed in languages that carry meaning in inflectional endings as well as in English where word order is crucial, but other figures do not translate as easily. For example, the figure polyptoton requires carrying a term through case permutations. Had Lincoln been writing in Latin, the great concluding tricolon of the speech could have been the jangle populi, populo, populo, the genitive of the people , the ablative by the people, and the dative for the people. But English requires prepositional phrases to do what Latin does in case endings, and in this case a constraint yields a great advantage in prosody. For once listeners pick up the meter of the first and second phrase, they are prepared for the third and their satisfied expectation is part of the persuasiveness of the phrasing.

In all languages, rhetorical discourse springs from situations fixed in time and space. It responds to pressing events, addresses particular audiences and is delivered in particular places that can all be referred to with deictic or “pointing” language linking text to context. Much of the Gettysburg Address defines its own immediate rhetorical situation. Lincoln locates “we,” speaker and audience, on a portion of a great battlefield in a continuing war, and he dwells on the immediacy of this setting in space and time by repeating the word here six times (a seventh in one version, an eighth in another). This often-noted repetition is critical in Lincoln’s purpose. The speech opens in the past and closes in the future, but most of it is in the speaker and listeners’ “here” and “now” so that, held in that place and moment, a touching, a transaction can occur between the dead who gave their last full measure of devotion, and the living who take increased devotion from them.

The Gettysburg Address is profoundly the speech of a moment in our history and it is altogether fitting and proper to remember its anniversary. Yet whenever it is read or spoken it seems to belong to that moment. How is that possible? Because languages like English not only express the situation of an utterance, they also recreate that situation when the language is experienced anew. In this way, read or heard again, the Address once more performs a transaction between America’s honored dead, its author now included, and its living citizens affirming their faith in government of, by and for the people, repeating its language into the future.

Jeanne Fahnestock is Professor Emeritus, Department of English, the University of Maryland. She is the author of Rhetorical Style (Oxford, 2011), Rhetorical Figures in Science (Oxford, 1999), and co-author with Marie Secor of A Rhetoric of Argument (McGraw-Hill, 2004).

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The Gettysburg Address: An Analysis

Mannerofspeaking.

November 19, 2010

On 19 November, we commemorate the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in 1863.

In one of the first posts on this blog, I compared Lincoln’s two-minute address with the two-hour oration by Edward Everett on the same occasion. Today, people regard the former as one of the most famous speeches in American history; the latter largely forgotten. Indeed, Everett himself recognized the genius of Lincoln’s speech in a note that he sent to the President shortly after the event:

“I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.”

In a speech of only 10 sentences and 272 words, Lincoln struck a chord that would resonate through time. Why is this short speech so memorable?

The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

First, it is important to remember the context. America was in the midst of a bloody civil war. Union troops had only recently defeated Confederate troops at the Battle of Gettysburg. It was a the turning point in the war. The stated purpose of Lincoln’s speech was to dedicate a plot of land that would become Soldier’s National Cemetery. However, Lincoln realized that he also had to inspire the people to continue the fight.

Below is the text of the Gettysburg Address, interspersed with my thoughts on what made it so memorable.

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.

“Four score and seven” is much more poetic, much more elegant, much more noble than “Eighty-seven”. The United States had won its freedom from Britain 87 years earlier, embarking on the “Great Experiment”.
Lincoln reminds the audience of the founding principles of the country: liberty and equality. In so doing, he sets up his next sentence perfectly.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

Here, Lincoln signals the challenge: the nation is under attack.
He extends the significance of the fight beyond the borders of the United States. It is a question of whether any nation founded on the same principles could survive. Thus does the war — and the importance of winning it — take on an even greater significance.

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.

Lincoln turns to recognize those who have fallen for their country.
He uses contrast effectively. By stating “those who here gave their lives that this nation might live ” Lincoln makes what is perhaps the ultimate contrast: life vs death. Contrast is compelling. It creates interest. Communicating an idea juxtaposed with its polar opposite creates energy. Moving back and forth between the contradictory poles encourages full engagement from the audience.”
He uses consonance — the repetition of the same consonant in short succession — through words with the letter “f”: battlefield; field; final; for; fitting.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground.

Notice the use of a “tricolon”: “can not dedicate … can not consecrate … can not hallow”. A tricolon is a powerful public speaking technique that can add power to your words and make them memorable.
Say the sentence out loud and hear the powerful cadence and rhythm.

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

This sentence is full of solemn respect for those who fought. It is an eloquent way of saying that their actions speak louder than Lincoln’s words.
There is an alliteration: “poor power”.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

There is a double contrast in this sentence: “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here” / “but it can never forget what they did here.”
Note the appeal to something larger. It is not the United States that will never forget, but the entire world.
Ironically, Lincoln was wrong on this point. Not only do we remember his words to this day, we will continue to remember them in the future.

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.

The final two sentence of the address sound a call to action, a resolve to complete “the unfinished work”.
They are full of inspirational words such as “dedicated”, “nobly”, “great”, “honored”, “devotion”, “highly resolve”, “God”, “birth” and “freedom”.
There are a couple of contrasts here: “the living ” with “the honored dead ”; and “these dead shall not have died in vain” with “this nation … shall have a new birth of freedom”.
Earlier, Lincoln said that, in a sense, they could not dedicate the ground. Here, he tells the audience to dedicate themselves to “the unfinished work” and “the great task remaining before us”.
He finishes with his famous tricolon: “of the people, by the people, for the people”.

In an excellent analysis of the Gettysburg Address, Nick Morgan offers an interesting perspective on Lincoln’s repetition of one word throughout the address:

And buried in the biblical phrasing there’s a further device that works unconsciously on the audience, and the reader, to weave some incantatory magic. I’ve discussed this speech many times with students, with clients, and with colleagues, and I always ask them what simple little word is repeated most unusually in the speech. No one ever spots it. …

When they look, people notice that the word ‘we’ is repeated 10 times. But that’s not unusual, or surprising, given that Lincoln was trying to rally the nation. The speech was all about ‘we’. No, what is unusual is the repetition of the word ‘here’. …

Eight times in 250 words — two minutes — Lincoln invokes the place — the hallowed ground of Gettysburg — by repeating the word ‘here’. As a result, he weaves some kind of spell on listeners, then and afterward, that is not consciously noticed, but unconsciously seems to have a powerful effect.

Repetition is an essential aspect of great public speaking. The trick is knowing what and how to repeat. Take a lesson from Lincoln. Sometimes its the little words that have the most power.

We can learn a lot about public speaking by studying the great speeches of history. The Gettysburg Address is one of the greats. Lincoln took his audience on a journey. It began with the founding of America and ended at a crossroads. He wanted to make sure that Americans chose the right path. And he did.

We might never deliver a speech or presentation that becomes as famous as the Gettysburg Address, but we can still make an impact when we speak. For a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of how to write a speech outline, please see this post .

And for a fitting conclusion to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, enjoy this video.

Like this article?

I have read that Lincoln revised the Gettysburg Address more than 60 times. Regardless of whether or not that number is true, it’s obvious that he made every word pull its weight. Great post on this timeless speech.

Thanks, Patricia. If you click on the first link in the post, you will see that, in fact, there were different versions of the speech. I am not too familiar with the history, but it is interesting. But you are right about Lincoln making every word count. Cheers! John

Great analysis, John!

Thanks, Mel!

John – While president Lincoln’s command of the English language was impeccable, it would seem that the historical essence of his speech was much more important. That is Garry Wills’ contention in Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America (1193) — “a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Thus he relied more on the Declaration of Independence than the U.S. Constitution and made a bridge with European liberalism by using Giuseppe Mazzini’s words “the government of the people, by the people, for the people”. Cheers, Osvaldo

Osvaldo, thanks very much for the additional historical perspective. Very interesting indeed. It is a testment to Lincoln that he was able to draw on history and blend it seemlessly with the solemnity of the occasion to create such a masterpiece of a speech. Cheers! John

Again, a wonderful analysis. Contrast is such a strong idea, and Lincoln’s use of “We” does, too. A century and many score years later, Neuharth exploited to power of that word when he gave the world USA Today. “We” appeals to audience members, and readers.

Thanks for the comment, Harry. You’re right – “we” makes the audience feel like they are part of the story, part of the message, part of the solution.

Great analysis! It would help me to do my, study the “state of the Nation Address: an analysis” it gave me the idea. Thank you, Sir John Zimmer. I hope that you could do more analysis from different literature so that many students learn from you.

Thank you for the comment, Lileth. I am glad that you enjoyed the analysis. If you are looking for other speech analyses, you might find something useful at this link: http://mannerofspeaking.org/speech-analyses/ Regards, John

This should be read and seen every day to remind America what their fathers fought for, black and white .

Thank you for the comment, Carol.

Have you got any analysis and spoken language studies of President Obama’s Inaugral Address? If you haven’t I would be so happy and grateful if you could do one.

Hi Ali. Thank you for the comment and suggestion. I have not analyzed any of Barack Obama’s speeches, but have noted your idea and will certainly consider it for the future.

John, President Obama began using Lincoln’s Euclidean system for structuring his speeches in January, 2011, shortly after “Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason” was published. We have a second book coming out analyzing numerous speeches by President Obama, demarcating them into the six elements of a Euclidean proposition. “Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, and the Structure of Reason”, published by Savas Beatie. This book will be out shortly in eBook format. Dan Van Haften

Thanks, Dan. I’ll be sure to have a look. John

Thanks so much! This really helped me with my literature homework.

Glad to hear it, Jen. Thanks for the comment.

There is a hidden structure to Abraham Lincoln’s speeches, including the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln used the structure of ancient Euclidean propositions. These contain six distinct elements, an enunciation (with a given and sought), an exposition, a specification, a construction, a proof and a conclusion. This discovery is described in a book I co-authored, “Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason”.

Dan, thanks very much for sharing this insight with us. I was completely unaware of Lincoln’s fascination with Euclidean geometry. But your comment prompted me to do some digging and I came up with this anecdote from Lincoln himself:

“In the course of my law reading I constantly came upon the word “demonstrate”. I thought at first that I understood its meaning, but soon became satisfied that I did not. I said to myself, What do I do when I demonstrate more than when I reason or prove? How does demonstration differ from any other proof? “I consulted Webster’s Dictionary. They told of ‘certain proof,’ ‘proof beyond the possibility of doubt’; but I could form no idea of what sort of proof that was. I thought a great many things were proved beyond the possibility of doubt, without recourse to any such extraordinary process of reasoning as I understood demonstration to be. I consulted all the dictionaries and books of reference I could find, but with no better results. You might as well have defined blue to a blind man. “At last I said: Lincoln, you never can make a lawyer if you do not understand what demonstrate means; and I left my situation in Springfield, went home to my father’s house, and stayed there till I could give any proposition in the six books of Euclid at sight. I then found out what demonstrate means, and went back to my law studies.”

Thanks again for sharing this insight. Your book is now on my “to read” list. Cheers! John

John, The story about Lincoln wanting to learn what it means to demonstrate (and many more stories) are in our book. Thanks, Dan

Hi Dan. I knew that you would, of course, be familiar with the story but found it so interesting that I figured other readers would as well. I am looking forward to reading your book. Regards, John

John, Our new book, “Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, and the Structure of Reason”, was just released our publisher, Savas Beatie. This book shows how President Obama is using Lincoln’s Euclidean system to structure his speeches. The book is currently available as an eBook on Kindle and iBook, and soon will be available on the other digital platforms. Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Barack-Abraham-Lincoln-Structure-ebook/dp/B008AKOFOO/ref=la_B0043H0XNA_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339641707&sr=1-2 IBook: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/barack-obama-structure-reason/id535241124?mt=11

Congratulations on the book release, Dan. John

Thanks for the analysis. This helps with my oral comm speeches! 🙂

Thank you for the comment, Violet. Glad the post helped and good luck with your speeches! John

While all of these assessments of Lincoln’s speech are clearly good ones, allow me to throw a wrench in the works. Has anyone ever considered why the country was fighting against itself, and further more does anyone feel that there is a reflection on the word “we” in Lincoln’s speech for all men. Including men and women that were bound by the institution of slavery. Lincoln was an abolitionist, and the very fact that he gave this speech on the border of slavery seems very interesting to me. “…all men are created equal”, really gets my wheels spinning. You know that Frederick Douglas and Lincoln were friends, the North would not have won this battle without the use of African American men fighting in their armies. Would love to hear some input about my random thoughts. Mike

Thanks for the comment, Mike. You raise important issues, but ones that go well beyond the focus of this blog. I’m not quite sure I understand what you mean by “a reflection on the word ‘we’ in Lincoln’s speech”, but going through the speech again, it seems to me that the “we” changes depending on the sentence. Sometimes “we” refers to the entire country; sometimes it refers to the people who were gathered at Gettysburg; sometimes it refers to those finding against slavery and the South. I do know that many African Americans did fight in the war (and I recall the movie “Glory” was about the first all-black regiment). I also know that there is still some debate over Lincoln’s response to the issue of emancipation, but my knowledge of American Civil War history is not good enough for me to express an educated opinion. Others may feel free to weigh in. Regards, John

For a little more information on slavery and abolitionism, I would like to point out that this speech and the Civil War would not have been necessary if the founding fathers had not removed the abolition of slavery from the Declaration of Independence. Not many people know that the Declaration was delayed because certain signers would not sign until the abolition of slavery was removed from the writing. Sad, but true.

Hope this helps a little,

Hi Terri. Thanks for sharing that bit of history. I did not that about the Declaration of Independence. Do you happen to know which founding fathers held out until the provision was removed? John

Thanks John, for such a detailed analysis! It has certainly gave me a new perspective of the address, as it was indeed, very helpful in my research. But more importantly, I have began to realize what a great influence the speech had on history. For example, before he gave the address people saw it as “The United States are a free goverment,” but now it is “The United States is a free goverment”. I’m doing a project called National History Day. People from all across the country compete at different levels, nationals being in D.C. The theme for this year is “Turning Points in History” and this is my thesis statement for my documentary. Garry Wills’ Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America has provided me with a great deal of information and I highly recommend it you. Lawson P.S. Sorry for the poor structure of my comment, I’m only in sixth grade.

Dear Lawson, Thank you very much for the thoughtful (and well structured!) comment. It is great to see young people such as yourself taking an interest in subjects such as Lincoln’s address and the historical context in which it was given. It bodes well for the future. I wish you the best of success in the competition and hope that you make it to Washington, D.C. Cheers! John Zimmer

Great analysis of the speech!

Thank you for such a detailed and comprehensive stylistic analysis of this speech, Mr. John. It was extremely helpful, as I have picked up this speech as the main primary text for a further oral activity in school. Your analysis has helped me to a great extent; thanks once more. Shaiv

Dear Shaiv, Thank you for the message. I am glad that you found the post helpful and wish you all the best with your studies. Regards, John

Thank you so soooo much for having such a detailed and good analysis of this speech! 🙂 It did help me with my report very well. I just wanted to tell you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!! You’re a lifesaver! I will be looking forward to your reply. Thank you Thank you Thank you! May GOD Bless you and your Family! Thanks again! Love, Adriana P.S. sorry for not having so many big advanced words I’m only in 7th grade Thanks again!

Dear Adriana, You’re welcome you’re welcome, you’re welcome! 🙂 I am glad that you found the post helpful. Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment. And don’t worry about not using “big advanced words”. Too many people try to use too many fancy words and it just makes their message more difficult to understand. When you write and when you speak, it is good to use a big word from time to time; however, for the most part, stick to the simple words. As Winston Churchill said, short words are the best words. Best of luck with your studies. John Zimmer

Thanks so much for your reply! p.s. (Don’t take offense of this question just curious) Do you speak Spanish? It would kinda be cool if you did because I do 🙂 BTW I made an A on my report thanks to you! I’ll be looking fwd to your reply! Love, Adriana peace, Love <3, Happiness :-), plus +, Star Paz, Amor, Felizidad, y, estrella!!!!!

Hi Adriana, Lo siento. No hablo muy bien espagnol. Congratulations on your report. Best regards, John Zimmer

Thanks! 🙂 I’m glad you replied thanks again! God Bless you and your family! love, Adriana p.s. its ok if you dont know spanish you might on the other hand know some other language and i respect that:-) alright bye!

Thank you so much for this detailed analysis! I have gone through many people’s analysis of The Gettysburg Address, yet none have been as helpful. I admire how you extracted effective public speaking techniques from the interpreptations of the words in this famous speech. My english assignment seemed like a piece of cake after reading this! Thanks again!

Thank you very much for the kind words about the post, Noor. I am glad that you found it helpful. Best of luck with the rest of your English, and other classes. John Zimmer PS – I’ve always liked the name Noor. I know that it means “Light”. (Atakelemu al arabiya. Qalilaan.)

Mr. John I agree with all the complements people had given you. I have a quick question, do you think the thesis of this speech is the first sentence? Thank you. Savi

Dear Savi, Thank you for the comment and the kind words. You pose an interesting question. Because the speech is so short, every sentence has great significance. In the first sentence, Lincoln reminds the audience of the principles on which the United States was founded. However, it is the final sentence that is the real call to action and, as you put it, the “thesis” of the speech. That sentence — and it is a long one — is as follows: “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.” Kind regards, John

What an interesting analysis on the Gettysburg Address! You seem to have taken heed to some unique points, such as the contrasting. and when the President says ‘world’ instead of our country. There’s definitely a lot more power and just over-all inspiring things to learn from Lincoln’s speech now that it’s been elaborated so finely. Similar to one of your reviewers, I was looking for a new way to view this address for an English assignment, as I was definitely looking at in black and white. I felt I wasn’t grasping all that there was so wisely embedded into it, but I’m glad that I had found this. Hopefully I can build off of your interpretation and further admire the Gettysburg Address.

Dear Annie, Thank you for the kind comment. I am glad that you found the post useful. I have no doubt that you (and others) can find more that it good about the Gettysburg Address. All the best, John

Dear John, Thank you so much for this detailed information. It really helped on my English assignment. 🙂 Nallely

Dear Nallely, Thank you for the comment. I am glad that the post helped you with your assignment. All the best for the rest of the school year. John

Great piece, John! This is very helpful. I’m a lover of great speeches!

Thanks very much for the comment and also for referencing my post on your blog. Thank you also for introducing me to the cyclorama. I had not heard of it before and I watched a video of it on YouTube. Truly impressive! John

Dear John, I just wanted to thank you for your speaking points and thoughts. Curiously enough, I am a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, California. While I have employed several of the tactics and forces that you discuss in your article, I have never seen them explained so well. Whether to a jury, judge, or prosecutor; I try to employ the methodology you describe and highlight with your eyesight. I think I just used some of your and Lincoln’s method. In any case, thank you for your concise evaluation of a pretty special speech. Yours, Andy

Andy, I very much appreciate your comments as I too am a lawyer. When I was practicing law in Canada, I found that judges appreciated eloquence but not verbosity, passion but not theatrics. And they especially liked it when barristers could cut through reams of evidence and present a simple, cogent argument on the key points. (They also liked it when lawyers had a bit of a sense of humour and would show their humanity.) The best presentation skills, in my view, are still the ones that have been handed down through the centuries. Thanks again and good luck with your cases. John

Hi sir. I have my oration presentation in my english class, can i use gettysburg address? If so, how can i perform it? I mean. Is there a body gestures or action? Or just simply standing while reciting? Thanks ahead. -Padate

Dear Padate, Thank you for the questions. Assuming that for your oration presentation you can use a famous speech (as opposed to one that you write yourself) I see know reason why you cannot use the Gettysburg Address. It is one of the most famous speeches in the English language. Be aware, however, that it is relatively short. I don’t know if you have to speak for a minimum time, so take that into account. As for gesturing, my recommendation is to use gestures that feel natural to you. The speech is a very solemn one, so you do not want to overdo it; however, a well-time gesture, for example, with your hand or arms to emphasize a key point would be effective. More than gestures, however, it is your voice that will be most important for this speech. Be sure to let it rise and fall at the right times and don’t forget to pause at key moments to let the significance of the words sink in. Speak in a measured rhythm and do not rush the speech. Hope this is helpful. Best of luck with it! John Zimmer

I thank you so much sir, God bless you.

What do you think the strengths of this speech are?

Well, Randie, I would have to say that the speech’s strengths are its brevity, its eloquence, its universal message and its call to action. Thanks, for the question. John Zimmer

Thank you very much!! Could you please help me, my professor asked me to write paper about the speech that I have to write three or four reasons about why this speech is great? With evidence from speech. 🙁

Dear Abu Khalid, Unfortunately, I cannot write the paper for you. You will have to think about the speech and come up with the reasons on your own. You already have the post that I wrote. I recommend that you also Google other blogs that have analyzed the Gettysburg Address. Good luck.

I really appreciate your comment! However, I did not mean write instead of me, just help me with ideas, but I saw the link that you sent it and I wrote paper could I send it to your emil and give me your advice and tell me if I have wrong ideas? Thank you so much!

I appreciate your confidence in me, but I have to decline. I am extremely busy at the moment, but more fundamentally, it would not be appropriate for me to direct you in your schoolwork without knowing the curriculum or the focus of your teacher. I suggest that you ask your teacher to look at your draft and give preliminary feedback. Alternatively, you could ask one of your classmates. I wish you success with it. John

thanks a lot for the great help you provided by posting this great analysis.After going through your analysis,I have begun to appreciate this speech even more than before.I desperately need your help,sir.I am a student of ninth standard and am participating in an inter school elocution competition.we are required to recite an actual speech by a historical character in just two minutes.I thought for going for this speech but wonder if it would be the right choice.Also,I am confused so as to how to introduce myself to the audience because a regular introduction is a bore and common one.Please help me sir,i am very confused,the competition is on the day after tomorrow.

Dear Aditi, Thanks for the comment. I am glad that you enjoyed the post. Now, as for your contest, a few things: 1. Take a deep breath and relax. Keep the contest in perspective. Yes, it is exciting and nerve-wracking – I competed in a speech contest only yesterday, so I know how it feels. But you need to focus the nervous energy constructively and not let it overwhelm you. 2. The Gettysburg Address is a perfect speech for two minutes. 3. Usually in a contest, you do not have to introduce yourself. The Contest Chair does that. He or she should call you to the stage when it is your turn. If you must introduce yourself, just say something like “My name is *** and I have chosen to recite one of the most important speeches in history, The Gettysburg Address (assuming you choose this speech). 4. Warm up before you speak. Find a quiet place and stretch your arms and neck and shoulders. Swing your arms to get the blood flowing. Practice your voice. Drink only warm liquids or room temperature liquids. No fizzy drinks. 5. Speak slowly and with conviction. Put some emotion into it. Remember how important this speech was and why Lincoln gave it. It is your job to share it with the audience. 6. Pause after key sentences in the speech. 7. Smile when you are done. Don’t forget to shake the hand of the Contest Chair. I hope that these tips help. Good luck with it and have fun. It is a privilege to be able to share a message with an audience. John Zimmer

An idea. Represent yourself as a REPORTER OF THE DAY’S EVENT, GATHERING, AND THEN READ THE SPEECH. Sorry, the cap lock was on.

That’s a very good idea, Andy. Thanks for sharing it. Aditi, you said you only had two minutes to recite the speech and the Gettysburg Address should take about that much time. (You don’t want to rush through it.) But if you have a bit of extra time, Andy’s idea is a clever one. John

thank you so much,sir.You have helped me very much.I am very grateful to you as well,Andy for you cared to help me.Still quite nervous and hope I do well.Anyway,thanks a lot.

Glad to hear it, Aditi. Best of luck! Remember, treat it as a learning experience and have fun. Let us know how you do.

Thank you so much. My AP English Language and Composition teacher gave us this speech for homework and told us to analyze and take notes. This analysis of the speech has been very very helpful. Thank you so much!!

You are welcome. Glad you found the post useful.

wonderful. deeply analysed

Many thanks.

Hi, I still cannot understand why Abraham Lincoln uses the word “dedicate” 6 time in this short speech. Do have an idea? Thanks

Hi Milotas.

I have two ideas. First, repetition of a key word in a speech is tried and true rhetorical device that lends emphasis and power to the words. Second, inherent in the word “dedicate” is the notion that we are doing something for someone (or something) else. In the context of Lincoln’s speech, there was a dedication those who had thus far died in the civil war, but there was also the notion that Lincoln wanted the people to dedicate themselves to the task of building their nation and staying true to the principles upon which it was founded.

Would you say Lincoln’s speech worked and who would you is the “audience” he is giving this speech to? I would really appreciate your input and also what do you think he wanted “them” to do?

Hi Daniela,

I do think that Lincoln’s speech worked. The fact that it is still so well known today is but one indicator. I believe that he had three audiences in mind: the first, of course, was the people who were assembled in Gettysburg that day; the second audience was the wider American population at the time who would hear about or read about the address; and the third was for future generations. I do think that Lincoln had the foresight to leave a message that would resonate for generations.

As for what he wanted the people to do, well, first of all there was a civil war that had to be won. However, beyond that, there was the still (and always) unfinished business of building a nation based on the principles upon which it was founded.

Would you say that his speech was short, but important and the other guy who spoke for two hours wasn’t important? What was that guy’s name as well?

Hi, Yevgeniy. Thanks for the questions.

The other fellow to whom you refer was Edward Everett. I compared his speech to Lincoln’s in this post from 2009. I don’t doubt that Everett’s speech was important and that he had good things to say. But it went on for two hours! I am sure that much of the good stuff was lost amongst text that could have been cut. Indeed, soon after the event, Everett wrote to Lincoln and said, “I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.”

The lesson in all of this is to be rigorous, if not ruthless, when it comes to speech-craft. Focus on the message and dispense with anything that detracts from it. And nobody ever complained about a speech being under time!

I note that in the audio recital of the speech on this site, the speaker has added an “and” that is not in the text. It appears in the phrase “by the people (and) for the people…”. I only noticed this because, as an exercise, I have been trying to commit the speech to memory. It is without doubt one of the classic utterances of all time. Do you think that it was written primarily to be spoken or mostly with an eye to it being read? Given that Lincoln would have known that his short dedication speech would follow the lengthy oration by Edward Everett, I think it was mostly written to be read. (One can only have sympathy for the audience having to sit or stand through Everett’s two hour oration) Also it seems to me there is another subtle triple repetition that occurs in the passage “It is for us the living … last full measure of devotion.” In this part, Lincoln invokes the obligation of the living to the dead three times in different ways. If it’s worth saying, it’s worth saying it three times!

Finally, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The following sentence comes from the reported sentencing speech by the judge in the shoe bomber case (Jan 2003). The judge said “The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this [our freedom in the US], however, will long endure.” In the same remarks, there is a further homage to a later president’s inaugural speech, which I leave for the curious find.

Dear Nigel,

Thank you for the message. I appreciate your taking the time to write.

As to your question, I cannot say for sure, but knowing what an astute guy Lincoln was, it wouldn’t surprise me if he wrote it both to be heard and read. I had not noticed the extra “and” slipped in the audio. Good catch! The “and” weakens the sentence. Without it, we have the rhetorical device, polysyndeton, which is very powerful when used properly (as Lincoln did).

Thanks, also, for the reference to the Unabomber sentencing. I did not know that! Very interesting. Indeed, some things never go out of style.

Prove that the Gettysburg address as a piece of literature.

Thanks for the comment, Moshiur. I am not sure what you are asking. The Gettysburg Address is certainly a great speech. Whether it qualifies is literature is open to debate; however, it is unquestionably an eloquent and inspiring piece of writing.

You are to be congratulated for your measured response. My draft included a “candidature for caricature in literature causing discomfiture” rhyming device. Taking a quick look at both modern and archaic definitions, I think the Gettysburg Address does, probably clearly so, qualify as literature. Brevity can be the soul of both wit and literature. Especially, when it is written in granite. That suggests an enduring tome. You are a gentleman and, obviously, a very good and patient teacher. Nice to see some of your writing, again. Even when it comes from being asked to prove that which you had not even raised.

Andy. That attorney out West.

Thanks for the comment. I admire your abilities as a wordsmith. And, I take your point about the Gettysburg Address qualifying as literature. If a poem of a few stanzas can qualify as literature, I see no reason why an eloquent speech cannot so qualify as well.

If anyone were to give that speech today, they probably would be accused of “inciting the people to rebel against what is “now here”. History has it that Lincoln did not go further than the 2nd grade in school; so what does that say about the billions we spend on education today, when probably none could write a better speech?

It’s an interesting thought, Mary. Thanks for the comment.

Extremely useful, John! I especially like the colour-coded phrases, which make the point you’re discussing leap from the screen! (Your readers here might also like this analysis of a TEDx talk on body language , which I published recently.)

Thank you for the comment. I am glad that you found the post useful. Good luck with your classes!

what does of the people, by the people, for the people mean in the gettysburg address sorry i will not give my real name or e-mail this is for John Zimmer

Thanks for the question and no problem about remaining anonymous.

“Of the people” means that the government is made up of people from the country. Americans choose their representatives from among themselves. “By the people” means that it is the American people themselves who choose their government. “For the people” means that it is the job of the government to govern in the best interests of the people.

I hope this helps.

You have made some good points.

Great analysis!

That’s great and useful. It helps me a lot to pass my translation exam. Thank you.

Glad it was helpful.

John do you know when you wrote this blog because I need it to cite your blog. Thanks. P.S. VERY useful info, thanks.

Thanks for the comment. Glad you found the information useful. I wrote the post on 19 November 2010. You can find the date for any post that I wrote by clicking on the URL. WordPress always has the date of publication in the full URL. Cheers!

Thank you for your analysis of Lincoln speech. It was extremely helpful for me to do my class work.

Glad to hear it. Thanks for letting me know.

Thank you so much for the analysis, John. It really helped me for my semester.

Thank you for the comment. I am glad that you found the post helpful.

thank you so much for this analysis, it really helps me with my paper

Thanks, Mohamed. Glad you found it helpful.

This has been very helpful. On it’s anniversary I’m planning on releasing a series of memes based on the Gettysburg Address that will hopefully symbolize and analogize our current political environment and I believe this analysis will help me greatly with both the wording and the imagery. Thank you.

Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you found the post helpful. Good luck with your project. Please come back and leave another comment with the link so that readers and I can check it out.

When it comes to passing the time there’s nothing quite like reading a wonderfully written analysis on one of my favourite historical speeches of all time. I have to say I’m actually really thankful for this, it’s just so interesting and not just the article itself. I’ve been reading through the comments and I’ve actually learnt quite a bit more about this speech and it’s historical significance from all of the analysis readers as well as you, Mr. Zimmer.

Who’d have known that history and literature could be so interesting? I’ll also be checking out that book mentioned in the comments. Sounds like a worthy read. Plus all these helpful points on presenting speeches will definitely come in handy down the road. xD Thanks for all the information!

This is why I love checking the comment sections of articles with interesting topics. Hm, I feel like I’ve been using the word ‘interesting’ a lot. What’s a synonym for that? Intriguing, perhaps? Well, anyway… Well done, sir! Great job! I’ve never been so glad to have decided to procrastinate my studies and search the web for historical speech articles for no reason! It was worth the lost time. xD

From Sasha, the Procrastination Queen aka the Terrible 11th Grader Who Needs To Get To Work Right Away!

P.S. I love your website’s layout! xD

Hi Sasha. Thanks for the great comment. I love the stream-of-consciousness flow to it and I am glad that you found the post helpful. I agree with you about finding interesting ideas and information in the comments. That’s one of the things that I enjoy about writing and reading blogs.

Good luck with your studies and remember to give them at least equal time with this blog! 😉

John – I really appreciate and admire your clear thinking, analysis, and articulateness.

As always, super work, well done, thank you.

WatchMojo also placed this speech at the top of its list of “Top 10 Famous Speeches”. ( https://youtu.be/0VegIvb1e7s ) If anyone is interested in using a “Memory Palace” technique to memorize the Gettysburg Address in 1-hour, this article may help.

http://www.necessarybridges.com/2017/09/leading-team-preparing-presentation-think-different-think-memory-palace/ Keep up your awesome work.

Thanks so much, Rashid. The post on the Gettysburg Address, which I wrote years ago, is still my No. 1 performing post in terms of hits. On an average week, it will be No. 1 four or five days out of seven. I often get messages from students in high school and college saying how it helped them with an assignment.

I will read your post with interest. I have seen the montage of different speakers before. It’s a shame that Bill O’Reilly is there! But it is very good. As for the memory palace, we should talk about memory techniques some time. I have been using one for years to remember lists but also to remember parts of a speech.

Thanks John. Interesting to note that this is your most popular post. But not surprising. Again, your analysis is superb, your articulation outstanding.

Will be happy to talk about memory techniques some time. Please feel free to suggest options and dates/times. Side note. I have a 45 minutes (private) video of an education session where I got the whole audience to memorize the speech. Even though I had to demand a lot from my audience, the talk was generally well received.

It is a very poor quality video (made only for my review), but if you like, I can try to get it to you via Dropbox or Google drive, or a private YT link etc.

It is a very powerful technique but it sure makes you work hard :-).

The technique had been used for ~2K years by orators–so it obviously works.

Good luck! Keep up your splendid work.

Thanks, Rashid. I’d be interested in watching the video when I have some time.

If it is less than 2GB, you can send it to me for free using We Transfer (www.wetransfer.com). Just upload the file and send it to [email protected] . I use We Transfer all the time.

And yes, when my schedule eases up, I will look into possible dates to speak about memory techniques.

john i love you

Well, I appreciate it.

This analysis is so good! this is definitely helping me study for future exams.

Glad you found the article helpful, Elijah. Good luck with your exams.

thanks for that

This is a very good analysis. I also like how you still respond 10 years later.

Thank you, Dan. I have been so busy with work of late that I have not been on the blog that much. This will change and yes, I will always respond to people who take the time to comment.

Thanks John Zimmmmer!!!! very cool

Thanks, Benson (including the extra “mm”.

Any idea about “euphemism” in the speech?

Interesting question. I think that there are some euphemisms in the speech:

– “final resting place” for “cemetery” – “gave their lives” for “died” – “gave the last full measure of devotion” also for “died”

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Persephone: The Harvard Undergraduate Classics Journal

The Greeks at Gettysburg: An Analysis of Pericles' Epitaphios Logos as a Model for Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

From Vol. 2, No. 1, Spring 2017

By Hannah Szapary, Brown University

Many people view the key documents in presidential history as being purely American, and while this is true in some respects, they often overlook the influence that the Western cannon has had on them. The impact is not always obvious because the content of these American documents often sets a precedent, but subtle links to the Greco-Roman writing style can have a large effect on the message a president sends to his audience or reader. With its structural incorporation of remarks on prognoi and arete , that is, restraint in expression and use of antitheses , Pericles’ epitaphios logos serves as a model for Abraham Lincoln, allowing him to utilize his Gettysburg Address as a means to convey the paramount importance of the Declaration of Independence and its principle of universal equality.

Though his address is shorter than that of the typical Greek genre, Lincoln manages to link his speech to Pericles’ epitaphios logos by composing his message with a compressed but similar structure. He begins by writing a sort of epainesis , a praise of the dead that includes some of the same major themes found in the funeral oration of Pericles, chiefly the deceased men’s descendants and their excellence. The epainesis of Pericles begins with a comment on prognoi, a tribute to the relatives of the fallen:

I make the ancestors my opening theme, since it is right, it is appropriate here, to pay them memory’s tribute. They, who dwelt nowhere but here, passed this land down to us, generation by generation, kept free by their valor (Pericles, 19-20). The choice to place these sentences before everything else does seem “right” and “appropriate,” as Pericles believes it. When he depicts the ancestors of the fallen as noble and brave first, having fought for the freedom of the land, the deaths of the men seem more heroic later in the oration: they are now put in the context of a longer and greater battle to maintain the land’s liberty.

Lincoln also touches on the descendants of the Civil War soldiers, with the opening “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.” Here, the noble ancestors are not the writers of the Constitution, but of the Declaration of Independence, and the men become soldiers having fought on behalf of this document. By following the starting structure of the epitaphios logos , Lincoln uses the opportunity to underscore the notion of the Declaration’s supremacy.

The epainesis in Pericles’ oration continues with a remark on arete , that is, the excellence of the dead in battle:

But the valor of these men and their peers gave the city her beauty…The death of these, in my judgment, revealed the courage of some at their first encounter, or conformed the others’ established record (Pericles, 21).

He extolls the courage of these men, in keeping with the conventions of the epainesis , but also extends praise to Athens, the city of “beauty” and the reason for the soldiers’ deaths. Therefore, the words of the epitaphios logos shape the funeral oration into a celebration of the men who have died as well as the cause of their fight. Though his address is shorter, Lincoln includes a statement on arete when he describes the fallen at Gettysburg as those “ who here gave their lives that that nation might live.” When he indicates the bravery of the soldiers by their willingness to give away their lives, he, in the method used by Pericles, also values their cause, as he implies that it is worth thousands of casualties. The phrase “that nation” reminds the listener or reader of the beginning of the address: this nation is the one founded on the Declaration of Independence rather than the Constitution, as Lincoln proposes earlier. He is therefore able to reinforce this point by following the Greek epitaphios logos structure to give the arete a dual purpose.

Pericles displays some restraint in his oration, another key component of the epitaphios logos , when he avoids individualizing the dead men and the citizenry of Athens, his addressee:

Such was the city these men fought for, rather than lose to others; and shall we, their survivors, not take up the labor (Pericles, 21)?

He makes no specifications about the soldiers, calling them “these men," and uses the plural “we” when speaking to everyone else. The change from the third to the first person with the same use of generalizing pronouns is sudden and dramatic. By forming a sharp distinction between just two groups, the dead and the living, Pericles emphasizes that the surviving citizens must continue to fight for their city. In addition, the pronoun “we” is inclusive and links the audience with Pericles, adding more passion to his message.

In a similar way, Lincoln chooses to make no specifications regarding those who have died at Gettysburg and those who are mourning them:

It is for the living, rather, to be dedicated 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… (Pericles, 22).

Again, a shift from the third person “they” to the first plural “us” is evident, forging a clear connection between the fallen and survivors who must still be dedicated to their cause. In this case, the “unfinished work” is described earlier in the address as the principle of equality outlined in the Declaration. Thus, the divide creates a call to action that prioritizes the Declaration as the document that must be protected in order to save the country. By bringing the listeners into his oration and connecting himself with them, Lincoln presents his opinion of the Declaration’s supremacy with greater vehemence.

A final hallmark of the epitaphios logos is the use of antithesis, in particular that between the mortal and immortal. Pericles refers to the way these two interact in the following sentences:

In a joint offering of their bodies [the men] won their several rewards of ageless praise… their glory is laid up imperishable, recallable at any need for remembrance or example…Strive then, with these, convinced that happiness lies in freedom (Pericles, 22).

Here, the mortal and immortal interlock on the battlefield: though the men are killed, their glory remains “imperishable”; Pericles implies that the path to immortality lies in the death of those dedicated to the protection of the city’s freedom. This statement would appeal to any audience and gain followers for his cause because by nature humans long for an everlasting legacy. Through this connection of the two opposites, Pericles can convince his listeners that liberty is of the utmost importance to the survival of Athens and its people.

Lincoln uses the same technique in his writing, constructing a relationship between the mortal and immortal in his final exclamation:

…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.

He illustrates that through the death of soldiers, the government, rather than the men themselves, will attain immortality. This is a different message than Pericles’; Lincoln does not appeal to the human desire for glory, but nevertheless tries to accomplish the same goal. The phrase “of the people, by the people, for the people” refers to the idea that Lincoln believes the government is founded on the Declaration. By this reference, he asserts that the government’s survival depends on the fight for the protection of the document’s core principle of equality.

Through the addition of remarks on prognoi and arete , his restraint in expression and inclusion of antitheses, Abraham Lincoln uses Pericles’ epitaphios logos as a model to illustrate the supremacy of the Declaration of Independence and its value of unanimous equality in his Gettysburg Address . Perhaps most interesting is the effect this kind of analysis has on a reader of presidential documents: after conducting one close reading of the address with the Greek epitaphios logos in mind, numerous links between the two become evident, as well as connections with speeches of other presidents. Recognizing that many presidents draw from the Western cannon makes Lincoln all the more special, because he did not have the education in the Classics that others in his office had. His genius is unparalleled, and a look at his work through the Greco-Roman lens can only confirm this.

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November 19, 1863: gettysburg address, about this speech.

Abraham Lincoln

November 19, 1863

Four months after the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln joined in a dedication of a national cemetery on a portion of the battlefield. The speech he delivered that day would become one of the most famous speeches given by a U.S. President.

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 battle-field 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 can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not 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.

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Abraham Lincoln | 1863

Reprint of a small detail of a black and white photo showing the crowd gathered for the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Penn., where President Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address. Lincoln is visible facing the crowd, not wearing a hat.

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history: the Gettysburg Address. The Union victory at Gettysburg was a key moment in the Civil War—thwarting General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of the North. President Lincoln offered this brief speech in a dedication ceremony for a new national cemetery near the Gettysburg battlefield. Lincoln was not even the featured speaker that day. Noted orator Edward Everett spoke for nearly two hours, while Lincoln spoke for a mere two minutes. In his powerful address, Lincoln embraced the Declaration of Independence, recalling how the nation was “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” By resurrecting these promises, Lincoln committed post-Civil War America to “a new birth of freedom.” Following the Civil War, the Reconstruction Amendments—the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments—abolished slavery, wrote the Declaration of Independence’s commitment to freedom and equality into the Constitution, and promised to ban racial discrimination in voting. In so doing, the amendments sought to make Lincoln’s “new birth of freedom” a constitutional reality.

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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.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not 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.

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Home — Essay Samples — History — Gettysburg — Analysis Of Lincoln’s Use Of Rhetorical Strategies In The Gettysburg Address

Analysis of Lincoln’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies in The Gettysburg Address

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In his iconic Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln masterfully employed rhetorical strategies like allusions, repetition, and antithesis to underscore the profound sacrifices made by soldiers in the name of equality, freedom, and national unity. This historic speech has endured as one of the most renowned in American history, not merely recounting suffering but imbuing it with meaning.

In fewer than 300 words, Lincoln paid homage to the Union's fallen heroes while steadfastly upholding the vision of the nation's founders. He rekindled the American people's understanding of their cause, framing the Civil War as the ultimate trial for the North. Through Northern victory, the United States was preserved as a unified nation, and the institution of slavery, which had initially divided the country, was abolished.

Lincoln's persuasive argument reshaped the Civil War's purpose and impact, winning over opponents by recommitting the nation to the principles of equality, freedom, and unity. His words remain relevant today, serving as a timeless reminder of these foundational values. The enduring significance of the Gettysburg Address underscores its enduring importance in American society, where it continues to be celebrated and remembered by countless citizens.

Introduction, gettysburg address rhetorical analysis.

In this essay, we will dissect Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, a masterful demonstration of rhetorical strategies. As you journey through this analysis, consider exploring more rhetorical essays on our website, where you can uncover the intricacies of persuasive writing. Join us in delving into rhetorical analysis essay examples to unravel the power of language and persuasion.

Works Cited

Gallagher, G. W. (2005). The Gettysburg Address: Perspectives on Lincoln’s Greatest Speech. Oxford University Press.
Guelzo, A. C. (2013). Gettysburg: The Last Invasion. Vintage Books.
Wills, G. (1992). Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America. Simon & Schuster.
Boritt, G. S. (Ed.). (2013). The Gettysburg Nobody Knows. Oxford University Press.
White, R. J. (2002). Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural. Simon & Schuster.
McPherson, J. M. (1996). Drawn with the Sword: Reflections on the American Civil War. Oxford University Press.
Dirck, B. R. (2001). Lincoln and the Constitution. University of Illinois Press.
Neely Jr, M. E. (1992). The Fate of Liberty: Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties. Oxford University Press.
Oakes, J. (2012). Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865. W. W. Norton & Company.
Niven, J. (Ed.). (2016). The Gettysburg Address: Perspectives on Lincoln’s Greatest Speech (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Definition of Antithesis

Antithesis is a literary device that refers to the juxtaposition of two opposing elements through the parallel grammatical structure. The word antithesis, meaning absolute opposite, is derived from Greek for “ setting opposite,” indicating when something or someone is in direct contrast or the obverse of another thing or person.

Antithesis is an effective literary and rhetorical device , as it pairs exact opposite or contrasting ideas by utilizing the parallel grammatical structure. This helps readers and audience members define concepts through contrast and develop an understanding of something through defining its opposite. In addition, through the use of parallelism , antithesis establishes a repetitive structure that makes for rhythmic writing and lyrical speech.

For example, Alexander Pope states in An Essay on Criticism , “ To err is human ; to forgive divine.” Pope’s use of antithesis reflects the impact of this figure of speech in writing, as it creates a clear, memorable, and lyrical effect for the reader. In addition, Pope sets human error in contrast to divine forgiveness, allowing readers to understand that it is natural for people to make mistakes, and therefore worthy for others to absolve them when they do.

Examples of Antithesis in Everyday Speech

Antithesis is often used in everyday speech as a means of conveying opposing ideas in a concise and expressive way. Since antithesis is intended to be a figure of speech, such statements are not meant to be understood in a literal manner. Here are some examples of antithesis used in everyday speech:

Go big or go home.
Spicy food is heaven on the tongue but hell in the tummy.
Those who can, do; those who can’t do, teach.
Get busy living or get busy dying.
Speech is silver but silence is gold.
No pain, no gain.
It’s not a show, friends; it’s show business.
No guts, no glory.
A moment on the lips; a lifetime on the hips.
If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.

Common Examples of Antithesis from Famous Speeches

Antithesis can be an effective rhetorical device in terms of calling attention to drastic differences between opposing ideas and concepts. By highlighting the contrast side-by-side with the exact same structure, the speaker is able to impact an audience in a memorable and significant way. Here are some common examples of antithesis from famous speeches:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character .” (Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream”)
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” (Abraham Lincoln “The Gettysburg Address”)
“‘Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.'” (Edward Kennedy quoting Robert F. Kennedy during eulogy )
“We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, signifying renewal as well as change.” (John F. Kennedy “Presidential Inaugural Speech”)
“You see, for any champion to succeed, he must have a team — a very incredible, special team; people that he can depend on, count on, and rely upon through everything — the highs and lows, the wins and losses, the victories and failures, and even the joys and heartaches that happen both on and off the court.” (Michael Chang “ Induction Speech for Tennis Hall of Fame”)

Examples of Proverbs Featuring Antithesis

Proverbs are simple and often traditional sayings that express insight into truths that are perceived, based on common sense or experience. These sayings are typically intended to be metaphorical and therefore rely on figures of speech such as antithesis. Proverbs that utilize antithetical parallelism feature an antithesis to bring together opposing ideas in defined contrast. Therefore, antithesis is effective as a literary device in proverbs by allowing the reader to consider one idea and then it’s opposite. It also makes for lyrical and easily remembered sayings.

Here are some examples of proverbs featuring antithesis:

Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Beggars can’t be choosers.
Easy come, easy go.
Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.
Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.
Like father, like son.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.
Be slow in choosing, but slower in changing.
Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.
If you can’t beat them, join them.
Keep your mouth closed and your eyes open.
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Utilizing Antithesis in Writing

As a literary device, antithesis allows authors to add contrast to their writing. This is effective in terms of comparing two contrasting ideas, such as a character’s conflicting emotions or a setting’s opposing elements. In literature, antithesis doesn’t require a pairing of exact opposites, but rather concepts that are different and distinct. In addition, since antithesis creates a lyrical quality to writing through parallel structure , the rhythm of phrasing and wording should be as similar as possible. Like most literary and rhetorical devices, overuse of antithesis will create confusion or invoke boredom in a reader as well as make the writing seem forced.

Antithesis and Parallelism

Both terms demonstrate a fundamental difference. An antithesis comprises two contradictory ideas and parallelism does not necessarily comprise opposite ideas or persons. It could have more than two ideas or persons. As the name suggests that parallelism is a condition where is an antithesis is an opposition. For example, man proposes, God disposes, has two contradictory ideas. However, it is also a parallel sentence . Furthermore, parallelism occurs mostly in structure and less in ideas. Even similar ideas could occur in parallelism, while an antithesis has only dissimilar ideas.

Antithesis and Juxtaposition

As far as juxtaposition is concerned, it means placing two ideas together that are dissimilar. They need not be opposite to each other. In the case of antithesis, they must be opposite to each other as in the case of man proposes, God disposes. Not only these two ideas are dissimilar, but also they are opposite. In the case of juxtaposition, a poet only puts two ideas together and they are not opposed to each other.

Use of Antithesis in Sentences

As soon he dies, he becomes a dead living.
Most people do not understand the value of money when the poor put money ahead of them.
Some people make money, while some waste it.
Although they have gone leaps ahead, they have also stepped back just in the nick of time.
The public comes forward when there is prosperity and moves back when there is adversity.

Examples of Antithesis in Literature

Antithesis is an effective literary device and figure of speech in which a writer intentionally juxtaposes two contrasting ideas or entities. Antithesis is typically achieved through parallel structure, in which opposing concepts or elements are paired in adjacent phrases , clauses , or sentences. This draws the reader’s attention to the significance or importance of the agents being contrasted, thereby adding a memorable and meaningful quality to the literary work.

Here are some examples of antithesis in well-known works of literature:

Example 1: Hamlet (William Shakespeare)

Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice ; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.

In Shakespeare’s well-known play , he utilizes antithesis as a literary device for Polonius to deliver fatherly advice to his son before Laertes leaves for France. In these lines, Polonius pairs contrasting ideas such as listening and speaking using parallel structure. This adds a lyrical element to the wording, in addition to having a memorable and foreboding impact on the characters and audience members with the meaning of each line.

Despite the attempt by Polonius to impart logical thinking, measured response, and wise counsel to his son through antithesis, Laertes becomes so fixated on avenging his father’s death that his actions are impulsive and imprudent. Polonius’s antithetical words are not heeded by his son, resulting in the death of several characters including Hamlet and Laertes himself.

Example 2: Paradise Lost (John Milton)

Here at least We shall be free; the Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.

In Milton’s epic poem , he explores the Fall of Satan as well as the temptation and subsequent Fall of Man. This passage is spoken by Satan after he has been condemned to Hell by God for attempting to assume power and authority in Heaven. Satan is unrepentant of his actions, and wants to persuade his followers that Hell is preferable to Heaven.

Satan utilizes antithesis in the last line of this passage to encourage his rebellious followers to understand that, in Hell, they are free and rule their own destiny. In this line, Milton contrasts not just the ideas of Hell and Heaven, but also of reign and servitude as concepts applied to the angels , respectively. Pairing these opposites by using this literary device has two effects for the reader. First, Satan’s claim foreshadows his ability to use his words describing independence to tempt Eve, resulting in her and Adam’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Second, this antithesis invites the reader to consider Satan’s thought-process and experience to gain a deeper understanding of his motives in the poem.

Example 3: Fire and Ice (Robert Frost)

Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

In his poem, Frost utilizes antithesis to contrast fire and ice as elements with devastating and catastrophic potential to end the world. Frost effectively demonstrates the equal powers for the destruction of these elements, despite showcasing them as opposing forces. In this case, the poet’s antithesis has a literal as well as figurative interpretation. As the poem indicates, the world could literally end in the fire as well as ice. However, fire and ice are contrasting symbols in the poem as well. Fire represents “desire,” most likely in the form of greed, the corruption of power, domination, and control. Conversely, ice represents “hate” in the form of prejudice, oppression, neglect, and isolation.

The presence of antithesis in the poem is effective for readers in that it evokes contrasting and powerful imagery of fire and ice as opposing yet physically destructive forces. In addition, the human characteristics associated with fire and ice, and what they represent as psychologically and socially destructive symbols, impact the reader in a powerful and memorable way as well. Antithesis elevates for the reader the understanding that the source of the end of the world may not be natural causes but rather human action or behavior; and that the end of the world may not be simply the destruction of the earth, but rather the destruction of humankind.

Example 4: The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives so that nation might live.

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.

These three examples from the address of Abraham Lincoln show the use of contradictory ideas put together in one sentence. They show how he mentions living and dead putting them side by side. This antithesis has helped Lincoln as well as America to come out of the ravages of the Civil War.

Function of Antithesis

An antithesis helps make an idea distinct and prominent when it contradicts another idea in the first part of the argument . This contrastive feature helps make readers make their argument solid, cogent, and eloquent. Sentences comprising anthesis also become easy to remember, quote, and recall when required. When an antithesis occurs in a text, it creates an argumentative atmosphere where a dialectic could take place and helps writers and speakers hook their audience easily with antithetical statements.

Synonyms of Antithesis

Antithesis has no exact synonyms but several words come closer in meanings such as opposite, reverse, converse, reversal, inverse, extreme, another side of the coin, or flip side or contrast.

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Rhetorical Devices in Gettysburg Address
The construction of this statement is an example of antithesis, a technique which contrasts opposing ideas to emphasize a larger point ... See in text (Text of Lincoln's Speech) One of Lincoln's primary themes in the Gettysburg Address is the weakness of words compared to actions. Lincoln claims that the battlefield cannot be consecrated by ...
Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln (Poem + Analysis)
Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln. Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon 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.
Rhetorical devices of The Gettysburg Address
"The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln is remarkable through the use of rhetorical devices like allusion, antithesis, and tricolon. ... The speaker frequently uses contrasts in his address, also known as antithesis. Contrasts are known to attract audiences and to make them pay more attention to what speakers are saying as they move ...
Identify two rhetorical devices used in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
Cite. In Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, he uses rhetoric to move the audience to see things from his perspective. The goal of rhetoric is to persuade towards a particular frame of view or a ...
Rhetorical Devices Used in the Gettysburg Address
Archaic Language. Lincoln opens the speech with archaic language, the phrase "four score and seven." Using archaic language, or language older than is used in daily life, is a rhetorical marker. This phrase signals that what follows will be distinct from daily discourse because the language used is special and elevated.
A Rhetorical Analysis of Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address"
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's rhetorical mastery is exhibited from the beginning of this speech. In just 278 words, he displays most of the typical figures of his style.
Rhetorical Figures in Sound: Antithesis
Antithesis (an-TIH-theh-sis): Figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure; a contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences. Ex #2: Lloyd Braun: "Serenity now; insanity later." -- from Seinfeld episode "The Serenity Now".
Lincoln's rhetoric in the Gettysburg Address
November 19th 2013. Perhaps no speech in the canon of American oratory is as famous as the "Dedicatory Remarks" delivered in a few minutes, one hundred and fifty years ago, by President Abraham Lincoln. Though school children may no longer memorize the conveniently brief 272 words of "The Gettysburg Address," most American can still ...
Which two rhetorical devices did Lincoln use in the Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln was able to pack many effective uses of rhetorical devices into his short address at Gettysburg.. The speech's opening words are an allusion. "Four score and seven years ago" works ...
PDF The Gettysburg Address Teacher Resource Guide
• Identify at least three key themes of the Gettysburg Address. • Develop a persuasive speech that can be presented orally or in written format in 267 words or less. • Identify the various literary devices including grammatical parallelism, antithesis, alliteration, and repetition and
The Gettysburg Address: An Analysis
The Gettysburg Address: An Analysis. mannerofspeaking. November 19, 2010. On 19 November, we commemorate the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in 1863. In one of the first posts on this blog, I compared Lincoln's two-minute address with the two-hour oration by Edward Everett on the same occasion.
The Greeks at Gettysburg: An Analysis of Pericles' Epitaphios Logos as
A final hallmark of the epitaphios logos is the use of antithesis, in particular that between the mortal and immortal. Pericles refers to the way these two interact in the following sentences: ... as a model to illustrate the supremacy of the Declaration of Independence and its value of unanimous equality in his Gettysburg Address.
November 19, 1863: Gettysburg Address
Four months after the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln joined in a dedication of a national cemetery on a portion of the battlefield. ... November 19, 1863: Gettysburg Address. Transcript. 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 ...
The Gettysburg Address (1863)
Summary. On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history: the Gettysburg Address. The Union victory at Gettysburg was a key moment in the Civil War—thwarting General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North. President Lincoln offered this brief speech in a dedication ceremony for a new ...
Analysis Of Lincoln's Use Of Rhetorical Strategies In The Gettysburg
In his iconic Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln masterfully employed rhetorical strategies like allusions, repetition, and antithesis to underscore the profound sacrifices made by soldiers in the name of equality, freedom, and national unity. This historic speech has endured as one of the most renowned in American history, not merely ...
Antithesis
Antithesis elevates for the reader the understanding that the source of the end of the world may not be natural causes but rather human action or behavior; and that the end of the world may not be simply the destruction of the earth, but rather the destruction of humankind. Example 4: The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg Address Figurative Language/Rhetorical Devices ...
Rhetorical Devices/Figurative Language from the "Gettysburg Address" Speech. Teacher 34 terms. SraRGonzalez. Preview. Ms. K midterm . 58 terms. Lmc51253310. Preview. ENGL 2315 Midterm - Poems. 18 terms. Chloeh1234567893. ... antithesis "for those who here gave their lives so that that nation might live" antithesis "living and dead" antithesis ...
Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Strategies Flashcards
Gettysburg Address Figurative Language/Rhetorical Devices Examples. Teacher 25 terms. los-vikingos. Preview. Rhetorical Devices from Gettysburg Address. ... What is are examples of antithesis in the Gettysburg Address? "We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live."
Rhetorical devices of The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln
"The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln is remarkable through the use of rhetorical devices like allusion, antithesis, and tricolon. ... The speaker frequently uses contrasts in his address, also known as antithesis. Contrasts are known to attract audiences and to make them pay more attention to what speakers are saying as they move ...
Antithesis In The Gettysburg Address
On November 19, 1863 Abraham Lincoln dedicated a speech to the cemetry at Gettysburg. Lincoln uses antithesis, parallism, and repition to enforce what he is addressing. In the Gettysburg address Lincoln uses an example of an antithesis, "far above our poor power to add or detract." Lincoln uses antithesis to motivate the people by telling them ...
Does Lincoln's Gettysburg Address contain parallelism?
Yes, Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" contains many examples of parallelism. Lincoln possessed great skill in crafting his words to create emphasis of the key points presented within this short but ...

Lincoln’s rhetoric in the Gettysburg Address

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The Gettysburg Address: An Analysis

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 can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not 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.

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Definition of Antithesis

Examples of Antithesis in Everyday Speech

Common Examples of Antithesis from Famous Speeches

Examples of Proverbs Featuring Antithesis

Utilizing Antithesis in Writing

Antithesis and Parallelism

Antithesis and Juxtaposition

Use of Antithesis in Sentences

Examples of Antithesis in Literature

Example 1: Hamlet (William Shakespeare)

Example 2: Paradise Lost (John Milton)

Example 3: Fire and Ice (Robert Frost)

Example 4: The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

Function of Antithesis

Synonyms of Antithesis

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