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Examples Of Syntax In Lincoln's Inaugural Address

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With the beginning of his second term and the Civil War coming to a close, President Lincoln was burdened by a country torn apart by war. Speaking to a nation of divided loyalties, Lincoln hoped his humble approach of divine strength would convince both the North and the South to put aside their prejudices against each other and restore the shattered Union. Lincoln’s allusion, parallel structure, and syntax helped restore the nation with dignity and grace. The newly elected president began his speech by suggesting that he would not repeat what others have said in the past; little progress had been made, and the public was very aware of the negative progress the troops were making. Instead, he focused on the reasons why the war began. Lincoln appeals to …show more content…

Furthermore, Lincoln explains how the issue with slavery was the reason behind the whole conflict, for it was clear that neither side was willing to give up their stance, and war inevitably began. However, neither one of the parties anticipated the length or severity of the war, nor did they realize how intense of a role their faith would play in its duration. Several times throughout the speech, the president makes biblical allusions, suggesting that God had played a part in the war, which forces the listeners to be reminded of how God – and faith – was part of the war and its causes. The parallel structure is another example of how that the president added appeal to his speech, and by using the same types of phrases and repetition of certain words, the president drew the audience to listen to his every word. In one particular instance, the president repeats the words ‘He’ and ‘His,’ emphasizing how much God was involved in the war. And though the North and the South disagreed on almost everything, they did have a common characteristic - they both prayed to the very same

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Abraham Lincoln, the president of the United States, believes the rightly famous Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery at the battle site in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863. Abraham Lincoln develops a persuasive tone to his audience, the Americans, throughout the speech in order to unite the nation and fight for a new birth of freedom by using syntax. Lincoln’s usage of syntax begins with long cumulative sentences, shift to parallel structure and finally finishes with punctuation. First, Lincoln utilizes long cumulative sentences to display America is a country of Liberty. He declares,”...on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated...all men are created equal” to imply that “fathers”

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In the closing months of the Civil War, and in his Second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln speaks upon important matters at the time. These matters being about slavery and politics. He wanted to express his thoughts on the ongoing Civil War and his hopes for creating a better future. In order to achieve his purpose, Abraham Lincoln utilizes sophisticated diction, irony, and pathos. Abraham Lincoln uses sophisticated diction in order to express his thoughts on the Civil War and his hopes for creating a better future.

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His primary goal of saving the Union was accomplished by announcing the Emancipation Proclamation, which sent a message of Northern assertiveness to the South and by winning the Civil War. By declaring that slavery was illegal in the rebelling states, he changed the purpose of fighting in the North from saving the Union to freeing the slaves thereby fulfilling his second goal, freeing the slaves in the rebelling states. Through this, he showed other countries what the South stood for and showed that the Union was now aligned with other countries when it came to slavery, which was his third goal, having the Union set an example for the rest of the world. His fourth goal, of creating unity in the Union was accomplished by using inclusive language in his speeches suggesting that people were greater than the states; therefore not allowing the states to secede. Therefore, through analyzing Lincoln’s speeches, one can him change his goals as the war

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531 Words | 3 Pages

In his Second Inaugural Address, President Abraham Lincoln addressed the topic of the Civil War and argued that the nation needed to change. He supported his claim with parallel structure to highlight the differences between the North and South, then mentioning biblical references to express the importance of religion, and finally the diction he used helped join the citizens together. President Lincoln’s purpose was to express the similarities between the North and South in order to unify the country once again. He uses a critical, yet hopeful tone towards the Americans of both the North and South. Just one month before the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln gave his Second Inaugural Address in the hopes of reuniting the country once

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In an almost identical setting four years prior to the occasion of Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln delivered a speech regarding a war that was yet to come. Over the next four years, that impending conflict became a very real national catastrophe that divided Lincoln's nation. Now, at the start of his second term as president, Lincoln issues a speech focused on reconciliation and the renewal of a wounded nation by joining again with the South. As a skilled public speaker and an extremely respected political figure, Lincoln utilizes three rhetorical strategies to highlight the similarities between the North and South as well as to declare the war as the real enemy in an effort to urge the U.S. to reunite.

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To begin, President Lincoln strengthens his points by using parallel structure in paragraph by exclaiming “All dreaded it, all sought to avert it”. By stating this, Lincoln brings together the two very distinct viewpoints by showing that both wanted to advert and stray from the war, knowing neither could due to previous circumstances. Parallel structure entails unification of the two sides of the battle, uniting them through a relatable idea and overall accomplishing the goal of his inaugural address, bonding the confederacy and the union back together. Another example of his use of parallel structure includes his expansion upon the idea that neither side wanted to start the war: “Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict may cease…the conflict itself should cease.” Lincoln indicates that he understands both

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Utilizing rhetorical devices such as formal diction, allusion, and repetition, Abraham Lincoln’s “The Gettysburg Address” successfully expresses the importance of coming together as a nation during the Civil War. Lincoln portrays himself professionally and speaks to his audience in a strong, firm manner by using formal diction. Instead of making his speech casual and more personal, in a sense, the author makes sure that his words are to be heard and respected by using the word choice he did. For example, in the thirds paragraph, Lincoln talks about the soldiers stating, “It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have this far so nobly advanced.” The specific word choice

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Lincoln’s argument in the Second Inaugural Address was the fact that both sides were counting on God for his assistance. The south actually wanted God’s blessing to continue slavery. They were seeking his help to justify this practice. Lincoln brings it to everyone’s attention that God will not answer both sides. He was showing that there will always

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In this moment of time, everybody should be embarrassed and ashamed for what they caused. Taking a deeper look at ‘”the war came”’, Lincoln leaves out the side who caused this because his attention is not solely on who to put the blame of the war on but, to reinforce the fact the North and the South has experienced an equal amount of great

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Lincoln was willing to employ different policies in order to establish a stronger force to reach his primary goal. Nearly a year after employing the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address which was a pivotal point in the Union’s support and motivation for the war. This incredible speech reinforced the moral of human equality and revitalized the Union participants’ interest in “the great task remaining before us.” This

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Lincoln's uses rhetorical strategy throughout his Second Inaugural Address was the use of an appeal to his audience's emotions. This is evident during his entire speech Lincoln continuously revert to religious evidence of some sort to support his claim. He says that although it may seem absurd for slavery's proponents to be allowed to pray to God, that his audience and he should “judge not that [they] be not judged,” alluding to the Lord's Prayer and appealing to his audience's Christian beliefs. He continues religion when talking about the Christians, he states, “Fondly do [they] hope, fervently do

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577 Words | 3 Pages

Abe Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, uses language with which the audience can connect and relate. Through inclusive pronouns, parallel sentence structure, pathos, and metaphors, Lincoln does not simply list off what the war has entailed or recommend a certain path the people must take. Lincoln instead consoles the nation as if it was a dear old friend whom is in dire need of advice. The first rhetorical strategy Lincoln used was inclusive pronouns such as “we”, “us”, and “all”. Additionally, the president began the address with the inviting words “Fellow Countrymen”.

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It is seen clearly in his word choice that Lincoln calls for a lasting and fair peace, but not only between the North and South. He also calls the American people to apply this concept of peace with other countries and in foreign policy. Throughout his Second Inaugural Address, President Abraham Lincoln employs a variety of rhetorical strategies to promote unity between Americans. As Lincoln once said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

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Gettysburg Speech In 2000 at Gettysburg, Coach Herman Boone presented his football team with a heartwarming, pathos speech about a historical war event to cause his players to fathom the importance of acting as a team. Coach Boone’s Gettysburg speech was a mesmeric allusion to President Lincoln’s famous dedication, and provoked a comparison between one of the hardest fought battles of the civil war and the need for teamwork. His morning practice speech is meant to inspire by arousing images, to appeal to their emotions, on the consecrated field of one of the most difficult times in American History. “Anybody know what this place is?”

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Abraham Lincoln in the speech, The Gettysburg Address, constructs a point of achieving a "just and lasting peace" between the North and South without retribution. Lincoln supports his assertion by justifying his beliefs of unity between the states. Lincoln's purpose is to influence the people to not allow what has been done to go to waste. He wants his audience to realize that this division will only persist if no one settles the current issues in society. Lincoln speaks in a sympathizing, determined tone to address the Americans who are mourning the loss of their loved ones and to the rest of Americans who he wants to see a change from.

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