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Gettysburg and inaugural address
Analysis of the gettysburg address
Gettysburg and inaugural address
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Whenever tragedy strikes, people often look for someone with the eloquence and the empathy to reassure them and help them seek some form of comfort. This was especially evident when President Barack Obama was to speak on behalf of the victims and loved ones of said victims on the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre on December 14. Obama’s use of rhetoric in relations to sympathizing with those affected by the tragedy is used as he fervently relates to it on being himself a parent and expresses it as such through the speech. Some have related and compared this to Lincoln’s renown Gettysburg Address. Either way, Obama does achieve the purpose that was sought out by Lincoln regarding the attempt to mitigate the despair of the loss …show more content…
In his speech, Lincoln immediately makes an appeal to people’s patriotism. “ 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”. This preliminary line reminds the audience of their country and their duty to their countrymen. It intuitively eases folks into the idea that their country was a nation founded by liberty, a popular notion, and serves to fill those listening with national pride. Lincoln goes on to address the soldiers who gave their lives towards preserving the country that they love so. “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.” He uses this rhetoric as a way of reminding the American people of these honorable fallen and why they should pay particular respect towards the soldiers. Lincoln also shows a more humble side to his speech. “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 …show more content…
President Obama’s speech definitely has more of a sorrowful drive to it in terms of the context in which the speech is given. There seems to be a more impactful sense of loss regarding the Sandy Hook tragedy. Although the battle of Gettysburg costed more lives, Obama has the ordeal of giving a speech about dead children in a school, a place that is supposed to be free from danger. When Mr.Obama says things such as “I know that there’s not a parent in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do”, it is not profound to declare that he truly did mean these words. The general attitude towards children is very different from that of a soldier. Lincoln gave his speech in the backdrop of a war, a costly war mind you, where soldiers know what they are in for. In the context of war, some on the other side of said war may actually condone the loss of life from their enemy, be it in a cynical, tribalistic, or political manner. But when it comes to children, we have a general sense of wanting to protect children from harm, and when harm goes as far as to be massacred, it takes an emotional toll on the general populace, you would almost have to be a moral imbecile not to feel the same way. So by default, Obama is more effective, credit is of course due for being able to articulate an inoffensive speech that achieves its
In the Obama Sandy Hook School Shooting speech, the exigence that Obama talked about was the tragedy of the school shooting. In the speech, he talks about how he is reacting as a parent and not as a president. Obama also talks about how the children had their life ahead of them. He basically said the children were going to become something in life; some were going to get married, and some were going t...
Primarily he starts out his address by speaking directly to his audience, the American people. He states: “We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.” By doing so he establishes who his intended audience is, which is very important in a speech like this. It helps the audience feel a greater connection to the speaker since he is addressing them directly and relating to them.
Four and a half months after the Union defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. He gave the Union soldiers a new perspective on the war and something to fight for. Before the address, the Civil War was based solely on states’ rights. Lincoln’s speech has the essence of America and the ideals that were put into the Declaration of Independence by the founders. The sixteenth president of the United States was capable of using his speech to turn a war on states rights to a war on slavery and upholding the principles that America was founded upon. By turning the Civil War into a war that was about slavery he was able to ensure that no foreign country would recognize the south as an independent nation, thus ensuring Union success in the war. In his speech, Lincoln used the rhetorical devices of juxtaposition, repetition, and parallelism.
Also he uses the words hallow, consecrate, and dedicate, “ But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot hallow , we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground (Lincoln , line 9,10) . Also “... who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced” (lincoln, line 14). Lincoln is trying to make himself more respectable using his diction. Also he is trying to make the family’s who lost loved ones , think even more highly of the soldiers. The way he used diction works because it makes his point of that they can advance through what they lost and remember what they were fighting for in the first place. It overall comforted those who have lost loved ones, the speech made it more like they nobly died instead of just another soldier dying in a
Lincoln's purpose of the speech was to honor the dead soldiers who had fought for equality, freedom, and national unity. This can be seen in, "...that we here highly
'With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.' In the delivery of Lincoln's 'Second Inaugural,' many were inspired by this uplifting and keen speech. It had been a long war, and Lincoln was concerned about the destruction that had taken place. Worn-out from seeing families torn apart and friendships eradicated, he interpreted his inaugural address. It was March of 1865, and the war, he believed, must come to an end before it was too late. The annihilation that had taken place was tragic, and Lincoln brawled for a closure. The 'Second Inaugural' was very influential, formal, and emotional.
Abraham Lincoln wrote one of the greatest speeches in American history, known as the Gettysburg Address. It was not only used as a dedication to the fallen troops of the North and South, but as a speech to give the Union a reason to fight and attempt to unite the divided nation. The sixteenth president’s handling of his speech at Gettysburg demonstrated how the effectiveness of juxtaposition, repetition, and parallelism, could bring unity to a nation deeply divided on beliefs. His speech touched the hearts of many and indirectly put an end to the Civil War. Lincoln may have been considered a tyrant at the time, but he was a great leader of a nation, a war, and a democracy.
He makes sure his audience connects with him directly by making them feel at his level, and at hiss. This way he connects to the audience, and in exchange, helps his statement of unity. Using various examples of parallelism, anaphora and refrain, Obama brands the theme of equality and togetherness in our country throughout the speech, vital to gaining the respect of his audience. Obama recalls the ‘enduring strength of the constitution’ by delving into the past alluding to America’s allegiance to the Declaration of Independence by quoting “we hold these truths. that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.
One of his most emotionally driven speeches is his eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney. Obama appeals to his audience which happens to be the loved ones of the victims of the Charleston shooting. Obama eulogy is very effective since he uses rhetorical appeals to honor Reverend Clementa Pinckney and the victims of the Charleston shooting as well as bring to the light the struggles faced by African Americans. With his unique style of speaking, Obama makes it easy for his
About four months after the victory of the Battle of Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lincoln’s address consists 272 words, and took only a few minutes to deliver. Lincoln's brief Gettysburg address became a message for the nation's ideals, mission, and patriotism (Simon). Lincoln paid honor to the Union dead by claiming their sacrifice for the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the desire for “a new birth of freedom.” He also emphasized the words of the nation's founders that all men were created equal regardless of race or ethnicity.
Remarks by President Obama at the eulogy for the honorable Reverend Clementa Pinckney; A man who was killed when an another man rushed into a church in South Carolina and killed 9 people while they were immersed in an afternoon mass. President Obama created different appeals and feelings through the use of different Rhetorical Devices such as Logos, Ethos, and Pathos. The use of logos ethos and pathos help the president convey his central idea which is to ensure the people of South Carolina and the people of the United States that not only are they safe, but they will unite to take this opportunity to create a more united U.S. This will happen through the establishment of new gun reforms.
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” Lincoln says that his note will not be greatly recollected, however is very much reminisced to the day. Within the two ending sentences, Lincoln resolves to complete “the unfinished work”. There are contrasts between “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”. He finishes with the repetition of a phrase that has become famous throughout the world: “of the people, by the people, for the people”. Lincoln delivered his speech at the Gettysburg National Cemetery, with a restorative tone, to sanctify the Cemetery, and it’s fallen soldiers that eternally rest
The way In which Lincoln referred to these soldiers is a clear indication of his support. This is seen in his use of formal diction- "devotion” and "hallow”, which associate them with the work of the soldiers. These words hold connotations of honor, making it known to the audience that their dedication is deserving of respect. His appeal can also be found in his reference to the Declaration Of Independence, “all men are created equal.” Being that the Declaration of Independence is mainly about freedom and equality, it is a reminder of what the soldiers were fighting for. This move is used to inspire the audience, create a sense of motivation. These aspects of his speech are effective on his connection to the nation's people, who are freshly exposed to the extent of this tragedy. Lincoln’s language is a way to gain their trust and move forward under the example of these brave
Obama uses fragments in his speech to put emphasis on what the fragments are saying. One of his statements in the speech went, "In the coming hours and days, we 'll learn about the victims of this tragedy. Their names. Their faces. Who they were." He was basically saying that everyone would be remembered. We would remember their names, faces, and who they were. People didn 't know who they were, but they had come to know who they were and were really upset that such a violent guy would kill innocent people. Obama used the fragments to emphasize what we would learn about the victims. It put more emphasis on it than it would have been if it were just listed out. On the news and the Internet, it would tell of the many brave acts that people had done to protect others, but it would also tell how they were killed and what had happened at the moment they were killed or injured. Sometimes the protector wouldn 't make it and so having their story be told is a way to honor their bravery. Sometimes the stories would show how the innocent people are just like ordinary people. Obama uses the fragments to make sure that people will never forget their names and the country will remember those who died. As a country, we will never forget the names of the lives that were lost and the event that took
To begin, both speeches were written by well-known people. They support one topic that is to persuade the audience to accept the idea of honoring those who have perished in rectitude of serving their countries. As well as explain why they are in the battlefield, to help them to not forget the persons who have protected them so they can live in peace, while they endure a never ending fight for freedom. “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 this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.” (“The Address Delivered at the Dedication of the Cemetery at Gettysburg”, paragraph 2, lines 2-4) It says that they are met on a great battle field, and that they have come to dedicate that portion as a resting place for those who are deceased. Even though they won’t remember what was said to them, they will remember what it was that they did on that field.