Rhetorical Devices In Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
This a practice quiz. You will be given a grade, however you can retake the quiz over again for five times until you get a better grade. You are encouraged to do so.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
Please respond to the Multiple Choice Questions below which ask you to identify the Rhetorical Devices used in the speech.
- 2.
Respond to the following prompt.
- 3.
In his Second Inaugural Address, given one month before the end of the Civil War, United States President Abraham Lincoln surprised his audience – which expected a lengthy speech on politics, slavery, and states’ rights – with a short speech in which he contemplated the effects of the Civil War and offered his vision for the future of the nation. Read the address carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical strategies President Lincoln used to achieve his purpose. Support your analysis with specific references to the text.
- 4.
Read lines 5 - 8 and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "We are met on a great battle-field 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 so that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this."
- A.
Parallelism
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Alliteration
- D.
Repetition
Correct Answer
A. ParallelismExplanation
Repetition:Replication of words or phrases in order to make a point.
Parallelism : Using similar patterns of grammatical structure and length
Parallelism
"of that nation", "of that field" are direct examples of parallel grammatical form ( prepositional phrases)
Finally the "that that nation (might live)" completes the repetition to make the point that the war and the field are responsible for the survival of the nation.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Read the first line and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent..."
- A.
Parallelism
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Alliteration
- D.
Repetition
Correct Answer
C. AlliterationExplanation
Alliterates with the consonant sound "f", "four score", "founding", "fathers", forth"
Alliteration: Repeating a consonant sound in close proximity to others, or beginning several words with the same vowel sound. For instance, the phrase "buckets of big blue berries"
Alliterates with the consonant sound "f", "four score", "founding", "fathers", forth"Rate this question:
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- 6.
Read lines19 - 20, and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
- A.
Parallelism
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Alliteration
- D.
Repetition
Correct Answer(s)
A. Parallelism
C. Alliteration
D. RepetitionExplanation
Parallelism , Alliteration, Repetition
"of the people" , "by the people", "for the people" are direct examples of parallel grammatical form ( prepositional phrases)
Alliterates with the consonant sound "p" 'people, people, people, perish"
The repetition of the word "people" is to drive home the point that government must be about the People.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Read lines 10 - 11, and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
- A.
Parallelism
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Alliteration
- D.
Repetition
Correct Answer(s)
B. Antithesis
C. AlliterationExplanation
In this excerpt, the rhetorical device of antithesis is used to contrast the brave men who struggled on the battlefield with the speaker's acknowledgement that their efforts have made the place sacred, surpassing the speaker's ability to enhance or diminish its significance. The use of "living and dead" creates a stark opposition between those who survived the battle and those who perished. Additionally, the repetition of the "p" sound in "poor power to add or detract" is an example of alliteration, which adds emphasis to the speaker's humility in recognizing the insignificance of their own actions compared to those of the brave men.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Read lines 9 - 10, and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. "But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -we can not consecrate-- we can not hallow-this ground."
- A.
Parallelism
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Alliteration
- D.
Repetition
Correct Answer(s)
A. Parallelism
D. RepetitionExplanation
The given lines exhibit both parallelism and repetition. Parallelism is evident in the repeated structure of the phrases "we can not dedicate," "we can not consecrate," and "we can not hallow." This repetition emphasizes the speaker's point and creates a rhythmic pattern in the sentence. Additionally, the repetition of the word "can not" further emphasizes the speaker's message and adds emphasis to the idea being conveyed.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Read lines10 - 11, and check each Rhetorical Device(s) that are used. " The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
- A.
Parallelism
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Alliteration
- D.
Repetition
Correct Answer(s)
A. Parallelism
B. AntithesisExplanation
Parallel use of the grammatical structure "Noun (conjunction) Noun" "living and dead", "add or detract"
Antithetical use of opposite terms "living and dead", "add or detract"Rate this question:
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- 10.
Read lines15 - 18, and check each Rhetorical Device that is used? "that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation..."
- A.
Parallelism
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Alliteration
- D.
Repetition
Correct Answer(s)
A. Parallelism
D. RepetitionExplanation
Parallel use of the grammatical structure (relative pronoun/ relative pronoun/ noun) "that these dead" "that this nation"
Repetition with the use of "that from these" and "to that cause" to lend emphasis.Rate this question:
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- 11.
In line 7 ".. for those who here gave their lives so that the nation might live" is a use of which Rhetorical Device?
- A.
Parallelism
- B.
Antithesis
- C.
Alliteration
- D.
Repetition
Correct Answer
B. AntithesisExplanation
Antithetical elements "gave their lives" "nation might live"Rate this question:
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Mar 19, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Oct 11, 2011Quiz Created by
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