Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis

Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis

November 19,, 1863, one of the greatest speeches known was delivered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania after the Battle of Gettysburg. About only two minutes in length by one of the greatest presidents our nation has ever known, Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln spoke to the dedication of the Gettysburg Address. His audience was his entire nation.

"Fourscore and seven (87) years ago..." here Lincoln opens the speech using logos. He's presenting facts, using numbers, dates, on when and how the country began. Lincoln then proceeds in using pathos along with using logos when opening the speech. Using these two rhetorical strategies in order to increase the audience's devotion to what the founding fathers accomplished and to preserve it.

We, us, and our are the words he mainly concentrates on, not once does he use you or I. He's grouping the nation as a whole in a time that our nation was divided in two. An example of repetition is when goes on to using we seven times and dedicated four. He is putting stress on the importance of being one by using we. By using "dedicated" four times he is informing the nation how dedicated and devoted the founding fathers had been and how we should as well carry on with that dedication. "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 the nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this." (Lincoln, Gettysburg Address) Applying pathos here in order to make the nation determined because they lost their lives, and to pay respects. While at the same time using ethos, credibility. Applying it to those who dedicated themselves for this nation and died in the process.

The closing paragraph is the longest and the most emotional section of the whole speech. In this paragraph he uses rhetorical strategies such as pathos, ethos, repetitions of words, juxtaposition, and more. All of these rhetorical strategies are used in order to present facts, emotion, credibility, respect and dedication. He cannot emphasize enough how important it is for the nation to be one and to be dedicated. Lincoln then goes on to applying pathos, appealing to emotions by saying: " The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our