Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address has played a powerful role in shaping American public discourse over the centuries. It has become one of the central documents in the evolution of American civil religion – imbued with religious and biblical language and imagery, backed by the ethos of its orator, its rhetoric sanctifies the founding documents and itself becomes part of the canon of “holy writ” of American civil religion.
This is all the more remarkable considering the fact that Lincoln was originally only supposed to deliver a few appropriate remarks at the dedication of the Gettysburg battlefield as a cemetery for the fallen soldiers. The main speaker, Edward Everett, had already given a long speech when Lincoln’s turn came. The situation which thus presented itself to the orator posed a considerable challenge, as the audience was already weary. It is therefore all the more fascinating to see how Lincoln succeeded in his short, dense speech – which did not even give the photographer sufficient time to take his picture – in molding American identity by fusing “organic union with transcendent purpose by utilizing the religious symbolism of the Christian tradition” (White 97).
This paper will examine how the Gettysburg Address came to be one of the central documents of American civil religion, which had a significant influence on all future public discourse.First, it will provide a brief discussion of Abraham Lincoln as an orator. This aspect is important insofar as it is necessary to determine what role his personal ethos played in the Gettysburg Address.
The main part will offer a close reading of the Gettysburg Address, focusing on an in-depth analysis of the rhetorical strategies and stylistic devices Lincoln employs. This part is concerned especially with the question of how these strategies contribute to the enduring significance of the Gettysburg Address as a central document of American civil religion.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Abraham Lincoln – The Orator as Prophet and Priest
- The Gettysburg Address - Rhetorical Analysis
- Works Cited
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines how Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address became a central document of American civil religion, significantly influencing public discourse. It explores Lincoln's persona as an orator, analyzing the role of his personal ethos and the rhetorical strategies employed in the address. The paper focuses on how these strategies contribute to the speech's enduring significance within the framework of American civil religion.
- Abraham Lincoln's role within American civil religion and his persona as an orator.
- The rhetorical strategies and stylistic devices used in the Gettysburg Address.
- The contribution of these strategies to the address's enduring significance.
- The relationship between Lincoln's personal faith and his public rhetoric.
- The interplay between "prophetic" and "priestly" elements in Lincoln's oratory.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the Gettysburg Address as a pivotal document in the development of American civil religion, highlighting its use of religious language and imagery. It establishes the context of Lincoln's short speech at the dedication of the Gettysburg battlefield cemetery, emphasizing the challenge of addressing a weary audience and his success in shaping American identity through the fusion of organic union and transcendent purpose using Christian symbolism.
Abraham Lincoln – The Orator as Prophet and Priest: This chapter explores Abraham Lincoln's role within the framework of American civil religion, specifically regarding the Gettysburg Address. It examines the persona he adopted as an orator and how this contributed to achieving his purpose. The chapter discusses the interplay between Lincoln's personal faith, his rhetorical strategies (which included both emotional and logical appeals), and his credibility as a deeply religious man. It touches upon Lincoln's development of faith, despite lacking formal religious affiliation, and considers his roles as both prophet and priest within the context of American civil religion, referencing the perspectives of scholars like Joseph Fornieri, Reinhold Niebuhr, Robert J. Miller, and Robert N. Bellah. The chapter delves into the concepts of "prophetic" and "priestly" civil religion, examining how these concepts relate to Lincoln's persona in the Gettysburg Address.
Keywords
Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, American civil religion, rhetoric, oratory, ethos, prophetic, priestly, religious symbolism, biblical imagery, public discourse, American identity.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
What is the purpose of this paper?
This paper analyzes Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and its role in shaping American civil religion. It examines Lincoln's persona as an orator, his rhetorical strategies, and how these elements contributed to the speech's lasting impact.
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
Key themes include Abraham Lincoln's role in American civil religion, the rhetorical strategies and stylistic devices used in the Gettysburg Address, the relationship between Lincoln's personal faith and public rhetoric, and the interplay between "prophetic" and "priestly" elements in his oratory.
What aspects of Lincoln's oratory are examined?
The analysis focuses on Lincoln's personal ethos (credibility), the rhetorical strategies employed (emotional and logical appeals), and how these elements contributed to the speech's enduring significance. The paper also explores the influence of his personal faith, even without formal religious affiliation, on his public speaking.
How does the paper define "prophetic" and "priestly" elements in Lincoln's oratory?
The paper explores these concepts within the context of American civil religion, drawing upon the work of scholars like Joseph Fornieri, Reinhold Niebuhr, Robert J. Miller, and Robert N. Bellah. It examines how these concepts relate to Lincoln's persona and the message conveyed in the Gettysburg Address.
What is the role of the Gettysburg Address in American civil religion?
The paper positions the Gettysburg Address as a pivotal document in the development of American civil religion. It examines how Lincoln’s use of religious language and imagery shaped American identity by fusing organic union with a transcendent purpose using Christian symbolism.
What are the main chapters covered in this analysis?
The analysis includes an introduction, a chapter focusing on Abraham Lincoln as an orator, a chapter dedicated to a rhetorical analysis of the Gettysburg Address, and a works cited section. Each chapter offers a detailed exploration of a specific aspect of Lincoln's speech and its impact.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, American civil religion, rhetoric, oratory, ethos, prophetic, priestly, religious symbolism, biblical imagery, public discourse, and American identity.
What is the overall conclusion of the analysis?
The paper ultimately demonstrates how Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, through masterful rhetoric and the strategic deployment of religious symbolism, became a foundational text in American civil religion, profoundly impacting public discourse and shaping national identity.
- Quote paper
- Katharina E. Thomas (Author), 2009, Abraham Lincoln’s "Gettysburg Address": The Rhetoric of American Civil Religion, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/172978
