Rhetorical Devices In Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

1. Read the first line and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent..."

Parallelism

Antithesis

Alliteration

Repetition

Alliterates with the consonant sound "f", "four score", "founding", "fathers", forth"

Alliteration: Repeating a consonant sound in close proximity to others, or beginning several words with the same vowel sound. For instance, the phrase "buckets of big blue berries"

Alliterates with the consonant sound "f", "four score", "founding", "fathers", forth"

Explanation

Alliterates with the consonant sound "f", "four score", "founding", "fathers", forth"

Alliteration: Repeating a consonant sound in close proximity to others, or beginning several words with the same vowel sound. For instance, the phrase "buckets of big blue berries"

Alliterates with the consonant sound "f", "four score", "founding", "fathers", forth"

2. Read lines 5 - 8 and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "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 so that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this."

Parallelism

Antithesis

Alliteration

Repetition

Repetition:Replication of words or phrases in order to make a point.
Parallelism : Using similar patterns of grammatical structure and length

Parallelism
"of that nation", "of that field" are direct examples of parallel grammatical form ( prepositional phrases)
Finally the "that that nation (might live)" completes the repetition to make the point that the war and the field are responsible for the survival of the nation.

Explanation

Repetition:Replication of words or phrases in order to make a point.
Parallelism : Using similar patterns of grammatical structure and length

Parallelism
"of that nation", "of that field" are direct examples of parallel grammatical form ( prepositional phrases)
Finally the "that that nation (might live)" completes the repetition to make the point that the war and the field are responsible for the survival of the nation.

3. In line 7 ".. for those who here gave their lives so that the nation might live" is a use of which Rhetorical Device?

Parallelism

Antithesis

Alliteration

Repetition

Antithetical elements "gave their lives" "nation might live"

Explanation

Antithetical elements "gave their lives" "nation might live"

4. Read lines 9 - 10, and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -we can not consecrate-- we can not hallow-this ground."

Parallelism

Antithesis

Alliteration

Repetition

The given lines exhibit both parallelism and repetition. Parallelism is evident in the repeated structure of the phrases "we can not dedicate," "we can not consecrate," and "we can not hallow." This repetition emphasizes the speaker's point and creates a rhythmic pattern in the sentence. Additionally, the repetition of the word "can not" further emphasizes the speaker's message and adds emphasis to the idea being conveyed.

Explanation

The given lines exhibit both parallelism and repetition. Parallelism is evident in the repeated structure of the phrases "we can not dedicate," "we can not consecrate," and "we can not hallow." This repetition emphasizes the speaker's point and creates a rhythmic pattern in the sentence. Additionally, the repetition of the word "can not" further emphasizes the speaker's message and adds emphasis to the idea being conveyed.

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5. Read lines 10 - 11, and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."

Parallelism

Antithesis

Alliteration

Repetition

In this excerpt, the rhetorical device of antithesis is used to contrast the brave men who struggled on the battlefield with the speaker's acknowledgement that their efforts have made the place sacred, surpassing the speaker's ability to enhance or diminish its significance. The use of "living and dead" creates a stark opposition between those who survived the battle and those who perished. Additionally, the repetition of the "p" sound in "poor power to add or detract" is an example of alliteration, which adds emphasis to the speaker's humility in recognizing the insignificance of their own actions compared to those of the brave men.

Explanation

In this excerpt, the rhetorical device of antithesis is used to contrast the brave men who struggled on the battlefield with the speaker's acknowledgement that their efforts have made the place sacred, surpassing the speaker's ability to enhance or diminish its significance. The use of "living and dead" creates a stark opposition between those who survived the battle and those who perished. Additionally, the repetition of the "p" sound in "poor power to add or detract" is an example of alliteration, which adds emphasis to the speaker's humility in recognizing the insignificance of their own actions compared to those of the brave men.

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6. Read lines15 - 18, and check each Rhetorical Device that is used? "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..."

Parallelism

Antithesis

Alliteration

Repetition

Parallel use of the grammatical structure (relative pronoun/ relative pronoun/ noun) "that these dead" "that this nation"
Repetition with the use of "that from these" and "to that cause" to lend emphasis.

Explanation

Parallel use of the grammatical structure (relative pronoun/ relative pronoun/ noun) "that these dead" "that this nation"
Repetition with the use of "that from these" and "to that cause" to lend emphasis.

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7. Read lines19 - 20, and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Parallelism

Antithesis

Alliteration

Repetition

Parallelism , Alliteration, Repetition
"of the people" , "by the people", "for the people" are direct examples of parallel grammatical form ( prepositional phrases)
Alliterates with the consonant sound "p" 'people, people, people, perish"
The repetition of the word "people" is to drive home the point that government must be about the People.

Explanation

Parallelism , Alliteration, Repetition
"of the people" , "by the people", "for the people" are direct examples of parallel grammatical form ( prepositional phrases)
Alliterates with the consonant sound "p" 'people, people, people, perish"
The repetition of the word "people" is to drive home the point that government must be about the People.

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8. Read lines10 - 11, and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. " The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

Parallelism

Antithesis

Alliteration

Repetition

Parallel use of the grammatical structure "Noun (conjunction) Noun" "living and dead", "add or detract"
Antithetical use of opposite terms "living and dead", "add or detract"

Explanation

Parallel use of the grammatical structure "Noun (conjunction) Noun" "living and dead", "add or detract"
Antithetical use of opposite terms "living and dead", "add or detract"

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