Free Example of Rhetorical Analysis Assignment

In American history and culture, Abraham Lincoln is considered a mythical figure and a president who abolished slavery and saved the Union. He is adored by the American community to a level ha has been immortalized in a Greek temple and carved into mountains. One can find "Second Inaugural Address" and "Gettysburg Address" inscriptions in the Lincoln Memorial and these speeches have been considered to signify America's rebirth as a moral and politically unified country (Peatman 12). One of the greatest speeches made is on November 19, 1863 when Abraham Lincoln established his speech well by using ethos, pathos, and logos.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

In the speech, he reasons with his audience using emotion and some reasoning through his ethics. He was not biased in his speech, and would comfortably and efficiently communicate to a bigger audience with unity. He used good values by establishing himself as part of the audience, "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion That as stand here today we all agree that these dead did not lose their lives for nothing That under God, the nation, shall have acquired freedom in this new birth and that government of the people, by the people, for these people, will not disappear from the face of the earth" (Lincoln 51)

He used a lot of emotion in this speech by stating how the American people are fighting one another and taking their lives for their country. He set the tone of love, pain, and anger on the citizens who had lost a sense of humanity in their social life. It is evident that the loss of a loved one will hurt emotionally especially when the thought of "they are gone forever" strikes you.

The use of logos is apparent in the speech when he said that, "Four scores and seven years ago, in this continent our forefathers created and designed a nation that was founded on freedom and dedication to the idea that all people were equally created." He uses logos by stating that, "The American community has come here today to dedicate a part of this land as the last resting place for those who are here and gave their lives to ensure that the state lives and survives the turmoil that it is experiencing. It is ultimately significant and appropriate that we should embrace and perform this" (Lincoln 72). He knew that people had already sacrificed their lives before in the course of the war to liberate their families and loved ones, the same was bound to happen and will keep happening by more soldier and citizens giving up their lives to keep their country.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln used ethos, pathos, and logos extremely well in his speech before both becoming the president in his campaigns and when he became the president, establishing the logic of more unity and less dead bodies, and keeping the people united (Peatman 38). He was one moral and ethical individual who rendered his speech with such great personality without defaulting in truth and honest. His morality and ethics are evident and irrefutable.

Works cited

Lincoln, Abraham. Great Speeches. New York: Dover Publications, 1991. Print.

Peatman, Jared. The Long Shadow of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. , 2013. Print