CSP
Abraham Lincoln gave The Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. The speech was short but very powerful. He spoke during the American Civil War at the dedication of a cemetery for soldiers. His words gave hope to people and honored those who died in battle. He reminded the people of the values of freedom and democracy.
Theme
The main idea of the speech is about freedom, equality, and democracy. Lincoln speaks about the birth of a nation based on liberty. He reminds people that the country must continue to honor these values. He also talks about sacrifice. Soldiers gave their lives for the country. Their sacrifice must not be in vain. Another idea is national unity. The war must bring the country together, not divide it.
Tone
The tone is serious and respectful. Lincoln speaks with deep emotion. He honors the soldiers and their sacrifice. His words give hope to the people. His tone is also determined. He tells the people to continue fighting for freedom and democracy.
Mood
The mood is solemn because it is a speech at a cemetery. People feel sad because many soldiers died. But the speech also brings hope. Lincoln speaks about the future of the country. His words make people feel strong and united.
Setting or Background
The speech was given at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle of Gettysburg happened in July 1863. Many soldiers died in this battle. The government created a cemetery to bury them. Lincoln spoke at the dedication of this cemetery. The country was in the middle of the Civil War. The war was between the northern states (Union) and the southern states (Confederacy). The main issue was slavery. The North wanted to end slavery, but the South wanted to keep it. The war was long and painful.
Style & Structure
The speech is short, with only 272 words. It has simple and clear language. The speech has three parts. First, Lincoln talks about the past. He reminds people that the nation was founded on liberty and equality. Second, he speaks about the present. He honors the soldiers who died. Third, he talks about the future. He asks the people to continue the fight for democracy. The speech is poetic, with powerful and emotional words. Lincoln uses repetition and parallelism to make his message stronger.
Characters
There are no characters in the speech because it is not a story. But Lincoln speaks about important people. He talks about the soldiers who died in battle. He also speaks about the people of the nation. He tells them to continue the soldiers’ work and protect freedom and democracy.
Detailed Summary
Lincoln starts by reminding the people about the past. He says that eighty-seven years ago, the nation was created. It was built on liberty and the belief that all men are equal. Now, the country is in a war. The war is testing if a nation based on freedom can survive.
Then, he speaks about the present. The people have come to honor the soldiers who died at Gettysburg. He says that their sacrifice is great. The battlefield is now a resting place for these brave men. But he also says that people cannot truly dedicate or bless the land. The soldiers who fought and died have already made it sacred.
Finally, he talks about the future. He says the living must continue the work of the dead soldiers. They must make sure the soldiers did not die for nothing. The nation must have a new birth of freedom. The government must remain of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Figures of Speech or Literary Devices
Lincoln uses different literary devices in the speech. One is repetition. He repeats the word “dedicate” to emphasize the importance of honoring the soldiers. Another is parallelism. He uses phrases with the same structure, like “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” This makes the speech powerful and easy to remember. He also uses allusion. He refers to the Declaration of Independence when he talks about liberty and equality. Another device is contrast. He talks about life and death, past and future, and war and peace.
Important Quotations
- “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.”
- “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”
- “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”