Comments on: English 8 summer reading - Lincoln response

By: matt d.

matt d. — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:02:17 +0000

1. There are many similarities between Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Pericle’s funeral oration. Lincoln’s speech, like Pericle’s, begins with mentioning the greatness of the founding fathers and success of their predecessors. Also, Lincoln praises the uniqueness of their governments, and their commitment to their governments. Also, in the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln also talks about the difficulties faced when speaking in a difficult situation like both of them had to speak in. In the end, Lincoln tries torally the troops, just as Pericles did. Only, Lincoln was speaking for the end of war and Pericles was kind of recruiting soldiers. Finally, Lincoln, like Pericles, talks about how his speech should not be about himself, but it should be about remembering those who died and what they died fighting for. In the end they were very similar speeches.

By: Chandler K

Chandler K — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:57:57 +0000

Lincoln: #1

After reading both Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Pericles’ Funeral Oration I saw a few similarities between them. One similarity was in The Gettysburg Address Lincoln talked much about commemorating those who had fought in the civil war. He dedicated a final resting place for them. In Pericles’ Funeral Oration he talked about remembering the great Athenians who had died for their country.

Both speeches began talking about how their ancestors influenced present day situations. As said in Pericles’ Funeral Oration, “I shall begin with our ancestors: it is both just and proper that they should have the honour of the first mention on an occasion like the present.” In the Gettysburg Address, “Our fore fathers brought on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

The purpose of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was very similar to Pericles’ speech. Its purpose was to dedicate a final resting place for those who had died fighting in the Civil War. Lincoln said himself, “It is for us the living rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who have sought here have thus far so nobly advanced.” He was trying to reinforce the fact that there is much unfinished work to do. Likewise, Pericles says that happiness is the reward or “fruit of freedom of valour”, and he warns “never decline the dangers of war.” He is saying that we must continue to fight for freedom so that the lives that have been lost were not in vain.

I think that the similarities of the speeches are that each speech is written to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives in war and to remember how great it is to have a democracy.

By: Taylor P

Taylor P — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:30:27 +0000

After reading both the Gettysburg Address and Pericles Funeral Oration Speech, I noticed many similarities between the two.
In both of the speeches, they mention a thanks to those who came before us for making the way easier. For making it a whole lot easier for us in our lifetime.
Second, a big part of both speeches was to honor thos who had fallen before us. Those who gave their lives for us, and to see change in our world.
Another point that was in both speeches was that in return for the men and women who died for us, we should continue to do great things for our country.
In my opinion, the biggest point that both speeches stressed was the importantance of democracy. That everyone should be treated equally. And that the people should have a huge part in what goes on in the country, and also in decision making.
The last similarity between the two speeches is that they both were given very close to a period of time where a war was taking place.

By: Kelsey K

Kelsey K — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:31:00 +0000

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Pericles’ address to the Athenians seek to honor those who have died for their country and encourage the living to be proud of their country going forward. Both want everyone to understand that those who died have not died for no good reason. Both remind the living to be dedicated to the “unfinished work” of the dead. For Lincoln, it was winning the Civil War and for Pericles, it was making Athens a great power in the world. Both men gave a speech to heal the loss felt by those living and to encourage support for the future.

By: Michael S

Michael S — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:39:10 +0000

1. Lincoln says that though we don’t know what happened to each individual man we know what they were fighting for and that is similar to what Pericles is saying.

By: Natalie S

Natalie S — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:08:29 +0000

Gettysburg Address
1. Like the Gettysburg Address, Pericles’ Funeral Oration was given after a war of great importance. Also, like in the Gettysburg Address, Pericles’ said that the country will not exclude foreigners, “We throw open our city to the world, and never by alien acts exclude foreigners from any opportunity of learning or observing, although the eyes of an enemy may occasionally profit by our liberality” and the Gettysburg address said, that “all men are created equal” saying that no person or culture is better than anyone or any culture. Also, both of them talk about honoring ancestors and warriors that have fought or contributed to the building of the community. These people are important to the history of their society. They also both talk about being a democracy, and having people in charge of the country instead of one ruler with all of the power.

By: Heather G.

Heather G. — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:24:19 +0000

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Pericles’ Funeral Oration are very similar. Both speeches were given to honor the people who died while fighting in the war and the survivors. The Funeral Oration showed the greatness of Athens and explained how good a democracy is, while the Gettysburg Address dedicated a monument as a final resting place for the men who died fighting. It also spoke of the unfinished work that still needs to be done. Both Pericles and Lincoln also talk about the people that came before them and how they have inspired others. By reading both of these speeches, you see that history is something that everybody has learned from. Lincoln’s speech was basically a shorter and more modern version of Pericles’. Knowing this, we understand that in some ways, the way we live now is just like living in 400 BC. This shows that our form of government is a great idea, and its not going to disappear anytime in the future.

By: Kellyn M

Kellyn M — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:24:33 +0000

Although Lincoln’s speech was given almost two and a half milleniums after Pericles’, they still had many similarities. While the Peloponessian War and the American Civil was both consisted over many battles over completely different issues, they were very much the same in many ways. The two men who wrote the speeches are also very unalike, they managed to mention many of the same things in their speeches.
Pericles and Lincoln were both very respectable, conspicious politicians who were given a big oppurtunity. They took it and chose to write their own speech and then present it to many people from theeir country or city. Their speeches where very comforting to those who were mourning and gve respect to those who they were mourning over.
‘The Gettysburg Address’ and ‘Pericles’ Funeral Oration’ both begin by mentioning the people who estabished their country or city, their ancestors. Then, they carry on to speak about the war that has taken place, that also is the reason they were all gathered at the ceremony in the first place. They also gave the soldiers, both fallen and alive, much respect.
Finally, they continue on to say that their city or country needs to remain strong and remember what the soldiers did. They need to remember what they were fighting for, and why they sacrificed their lives. But, most importantly, they must remember that no soldier “died in vain.”

By: Carla W.

Carla W. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:33:40 +0000

1. What similarities do you notice between Pericles’ speech and Lincoln’s?

I think that Pericles’ speech and Lincoln’s speech were very similar. I think that in a way the Gettysburg Address was a remake of Pericles’ Funeral Oration. I think in both speech they are talking about there ancestors that were on the land where they stand now. They talked about how their ancestors developed how they are thinking now. Most of our ideas came from customs and that how we got them.
Also, what is similar is that they are honoring people that have past away in war. I think Pericles’ speech goes into a lot more detail and explains how people feel and how they react. People are considered heroes after dying at war in the Athens, but in the United States it’s just the noble thing to do. Serve your country. You will get appreciated, but not as much as the Athenians would appreciate you.

By: Kathryn H.D.

Kathryn H.D. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:26:32 +0000

1. The subject of Pericles and Lincoln’s speeches is remembering the accomplishments of those who have died in war. They both ask the people to continue fighting for and believing in what their ancestors fought for. They also talk about how the soldiers who have fallen recently made similar sacrifices to their ancestors and how defending democracy is an ongoing battle.