Gettysburg Address Alliteration

Introduction

You ever heard of the Gettysburg Address? Of course, you have! It's one of those speeches that just sticks around in American history, given by none other than President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. Most folks talk about how it's short, to-the-point, and packs a punch. But here's something not everyone catches: Lincoln used alliteration like a pro. That's right, those repeating sounds really jazz up his words. In this essay, we're diving into the key spots where Lincoln threw in some alliteration in the Gettysburg Address. We'll see how it shapes the speech and grabs everyone's attention. By digging into this, we'll get a peek at how Lincoln managed to hold his audience in the palm of his hand.

'Gettysburg Address Alliteration'

The first line of Lincoln's speech goes, "Fourscore and seven years ago." Sounds fancy, right? That repeat of the "s" sound in "score" and "seven"? It makes it sound almost musical. Not a bad way to kick things off and snag everyone's attention from word one.

There's more to it than just sounding good though. By saying "fourscore" instead of just eighty years, Lincoln's nodding back to when America got its start with the Declaration of Independence. It's like he's saying, "Hey guys, remember why we started this whole thing?" It sets up all that patriotic stuff he's about to lay on them.

Lincoln didn't stop there either. Take the part where he says, "We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate." The way he repeats that hard "c" sound ties everything together. It isn't just about tipping our hats to soldiers who died; he's pushing for action—like real action—to honor their sacrifice.

This trick with sounds also backs up what he's saying about dedication and keeping true to values these guys fought for. Like when he talks about a government that's for all people not biting the dust? Yeah, pretty important stuff right there.

And there's another bit with alliteration: "We here highly resolve." Hear those soft "h" sounds in there? Gives it kind of a soothing vibe, doesn't it? It pulls everyone listening into this shared feeling of determination.

This isn't just about making it sound nice though; it amps up how serious they are about following through with what needs doing after losing so many lives on that battlefield.

Conclusion

So yeah—from checking out these parts where Lincoln used alliteration in his famous address—we see some slick rhetorical moves going on here by Honest Abe himself! Those repeated sounds do more than make folks lean forward—they highlight key points while leaving behind something memorable too!

Diving deep into how these touches work shows us why folks remember him as such an amazing speaker long after he's gone—and why effective communication can move mountains even today!

Bibliography

• Lincoln, A. (1863). Gettysburg Address.
• Miller Center. (n.d.). The Gettysburg Address: Analysis & Overview.
• Smithsonian Institution Archives (2013). Speech Analysis: A Brief History.
• Norton Anthology of American Literature (2007). Key Speeches from 19th Century America.