USA HISTORY

Lincoln’s words, “The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it will never forget what they did here, “ is an example of what literary device?

(A) personification

(B) hyperbole

(C) symbolism

(D) ** irony

Concept note-1: -Everyone knows the irony of that line where Lincoln says “the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here”-ironic because his brief dedicatory remarks have become the most famous American speech.

Concept note-2: -In the address, Lincoln says, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” When he is saying this, Lincoln is explaining how nobody will remember what people think or say, unless the American people pull together and do something.

Concept note-3: -Consider William Shakespeare’s famous line in Hamlet: “Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.” This is a great example of antithesis because it pairs two contrasting ideas-listening and speaking-in the same parallel structure. The effect of antithesis can be powerful.