What are some rhetorical devices used in the Gettysburg Address?

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The Gettysburg Address | Rhetorical Devices Used in the Gettysburg Address
  • Allusion. The phrase "four score and seven" is an allusion, or reference to another person or document.
  • Archaic Language.
  • Call to Action.
  • Contrast.
  • Classical Rhetorical Authority.
  • Euphemism.
  • Inclusive Language.
  • Metaphor.



Also, what rhetorical devices are used in the Gettysburg Address?

“The Gettysburg Address” by Abraham Lincoln is remarkable through the use of rhetorical devices like allusion, antithesis, and tricolon.

Also Know, what rhetorical device other than antithesis can also be found in the Gettysburg Address excerpt above? repetition. apostrophe.

Additionally, what are examples of parallelism in the Gettysburg Address?

Examples of parallelism found in Lincoln's Gettysburg address also include: Epistrophe: repeating the same word at the end of multiple phrases, as in "of the people, by the people, for the people . . . "

Are there metaphors in the Gettysburg Address?

There are two rhetorical devices that one can use with this result in mind: they are irony and metaphor. The first (and very famous) line of the Gettysburg Address uses a metaphor in which our "forefathers" gave birth to a new nation. Note the use of "brought forth" and "conceived."

31 Related Question Answers Found

What is pathos in rhetoric?

In classical rhetoric, pathos is the means of persuasion that appeals to the emotions of an audience. Adjective: pathetic. Also called pathetic proof and emotional argument. Pathos is one of the three kinds of artistic proof in Aristotle's rhetorical theory.

What is the call to action in the Gettysburg Address?

Abraham Lincoln's call to action was the Civil War, he wanted the war to end so he went to the battle field and gave a speech to convince the South to stop fighting. Abraham Lincoln's speech was about how all men are created equal.

What was the main message of the Gettysburg Address?

Lincoln's message in his Gettysburg Address was that the living can honor the wartime dead not with a speech, but rather by continuing to fight for the ideas they gave their lives for.

What is the allusion in the Gettysburg Address?

Allusion. The phrase "four score and seven" is an allusion, or reference to another person or document. Here Lincoln is echoing the Bible's language for the life of a human. Psalm 90 gives the standard life as "threescore years and ten." Lincoln uses other allusions throughout his speech.

What is the main purpose of the Gettysburg Address?


He had three main purposes: To bring the country (especially the North) together, when it was divided by different views of the war, to reiterate his view of the purpose of the United States and to provide a direction for the future 'soul' of the United States.

What type of speech is the Gettysburg Address?

The "Gettysburg Address" is an essay that was presented as a speech by its author, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the sixteenth President of the United States.

What does Four score and seven years ago mean?

Originally Answered: What is the meaning of four scores seven years ago? A score is equal to 20 years, so 4 score and 7 years is 87 years. This phrase comes from the Gettysburg Address, a speech given by US President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863.

Why does President Lincoln repeat the word Cannot in the Gettysburg Address?

The words we can not are repeated in succession at the beginning of each phrase showing the anaphora that Lincoln used. He uses this rhetorical device to repetitively pound the idea into the audience his belief that the people cannot honor or disturb the battle ground of Gettysburg because they are unworthy of it.

How do you construct a parallel structure?

Parallel structure (also called parallelism) is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. By making each compared item or idea in your sentence follow the same grammatical pattern, you create a parallel construction. Example Not Parallel: Ellen likes hiking, the rodeo, and to take afternoon naps.

Why do speakers use parallelism?


Parallelism uses similar words, phrases, or clauses to show that ideas have the same level of importance. This structure improves readability by giving a natural flow to a written work. For native speakers of English, parallelism is often instinctive.

What is the effect of parallelism in the Gettysburg Address?

Parallel structure: Parallelism has to do with sentence structure. It is the use of the same grammatical form in a series of two or more ideas to call attention to those ideas, to create a balance in the sentence, and to create a pleasing rhythm to the sound of the sentences.

What is parallel structure in speech?

Parallel structure is repetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

How does parallelism enhance writing?

Parallelism is important in writing because it allows a writer to achieve a sense of rhythm and order. When sentence structures are not parallel, writing sounds awkward and choppy. Parallel clauses are usually combined with the use of a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

What is the great task remaining before us?

As the contributors show, major issues remained, including defining freedom; rebuilding the South; integrating women and blacks into postwar society, culture, and polities; deciding the place of the military in public life; demobilizing or redeploying soldiers; organizing anew party system; and determining the scope

How do you use parallelism?


You can create parallelism through the use of symmetry in your sentence structure, as well as by repeating words and phrases throughout your paragraphs.

Method 2 of 2: Writing Parallel Sentences and Paragraphs
  1. Helpful?
  2. Helpful?
  3. Omit repeated words in a series to make your writing more concise.

What is the primary rhetorical devices Lincoln used in paragraph six to unify and heal the nation?

The primary rhetorical device Lincoln uses in paragraph six to unify and heal the nation is an emotional appeal.

What does Abraham Lincoln refer to in the first sentence?

The most specific reference to the Declaration is made in the opening sentence, "Four score and seven years ago" The year Lincoln refers to is 1776, when the thirteen colonies formally declared their independence from Britain.