Perspectives

In what follows, we will help you look at “A House Divided” by Abraham Lincoln from a broader perspective, linking it to the greater historical context and similar speeche…

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Historical perspective

“A House Divided” was delivered in 1858, three years before the American Civil War, at a time when the US states were divided over their views on slavery. Most of the Northern states had abolished slavery while the Southern states remained slave states. The speech is important because it captures the tensions of the moment and focuses on two essential acts th…

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Textual perspective

When you discuss “A House Divided”, we encourage you to also look at “The Gettysburg Address”, delivered by Lincoln a few years later, during the American Civil War (1863). You will notice that while “A House Divided” is very politicized and emphasizes the division between free states and slave states, “The Gettysburg Address” is a concise, wartime speech that emphasizes unity. Also, while “A House Divided” is built on logical argumentation, “The Gettysburg Address” is built on ethos and pathos as the speaker promotes unity …