Gettysburg Portfolio
AP Portfolio Entry #2 Alayna Baudry
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln, Abraham. “Gettysburg Address” Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 19 Nov. 1863. Speech.
The purpose of Lincoln’s speech was, not only to dedicate a plot of land to the fallen soldiers, but also to inspire his people to continue the fight.
Question #8: Is repetition of words, phrases, or images used? What is the purpose and effect? In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln repeats several key words that focus his speech on the tragedy at hand, as well as the need to continue the fight and the need for unity. Lincoln uses the word “we” several times to promote wholeness, one of the key themes of his speech. He states “We are met on a great battle field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live. It is all together fitting and proper that we should do this.” His use of the word we not only focuses on unity, but it also works to create a bond with his audience. Lincoln then shift his focus to draw attention to how the living can honor the dead by continuing to fight. He asserts “It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they 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…” He is specifically addressing the living soldiers in order to encourage them to continue the fight so that the dead would be remembered. He also repeat the word “us” to, again, show accord and support for the soldiers. In the final lines of his speech Lincoln repeats the word “people” to express that without the people there is no nation, which goes back to his theme of unity. Repetition was only one of the many rhetorical devices used by Lincoln in order to boost morale and show solidarity.
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln, Abraham. “Gettysburg Address” Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 19 Nov. 1863. Speech.
The purpose of Lincoln’s speech was, not only to dedicate a plot of land to the fallen soldiers, but also to inspire his people to continue the fight.
Question #8: Is repetition of words, phrases, or images used? What is the purpose and effect? In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln repeats several key words that focus his speech on the tragedy at hand, as well as the need to continue the fight and the need for unity. Lincoln uses the word “we” several times to promote wholeness, one of the key themes of his speech. He states “We are met on a great battle field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live. It is all together fitting and proper that we should do this.” His use of the word we not only focuses on unity, but it also works to create a bond with his audience. Lincoln then shift his focus to draw attention to how the living can honor the dead by continuing to fight. He asserts “It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they 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…” He is specifically addressing the living soldiers in order to encourage them to continue the fight so that the dead would be remembered. He also repeat the word “us” to, again, show accord and support for the soldiers. In the final lines of his speech Lincoln repeats the word “people” to express that without the people there is no nation, which goes back to his theme of unity. Repetition was only one of the many rhetorical devices used by Lincoln in order to boost morale and show solidarity.