Wixii, Hermy McCabe Balcomb, shares: “A lot can be learned from one of the shortest speeches in modern history. This speech was delivered on 19 November, 1863. Some historians cite this single speech as unifying our nation, proving a president’s credibility to a nation divided, and inspiring two historical great speeches of the twentieth century. Any guesses?
Yes, President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Speech scholars, in general, would also agree that this speech has to be one of his most famous speeches. Ironically, it’s a speech he almost did not deliver since Lincoln wasn’t the day’s keynote speaker; instead, the keynote speaker was handpicked by attorney David Wills, the individual in charge of the Momentum’s construction. Consequently, what exactly has made Lincoln’s speech such a hallmark of public speaking excellence? I believe the answer resides in three key concepts, concepts we can all capitalize on during our next speech:
1) Speech Simplicity: This speech was delivered in less two minutes; in fact, by the time, the photographer took the picture, only Lincoln’s top hat was captured because he was in the process of sitting down. A stark contrast compared to the keynote speaker’s speech, which lasted two hours in length. Yet, today, very few people even remember that speech. After the event, the speaker, Edward Everett, wrote a letter to president praising his speech by summarizing it as: “eloquent simplicity & appropriateness.” Point in case, a great speech is simple in its eloquence.
2) Rule of Three: The most memorable line from that speech, the one which is most commonly quoted, follows the rule of three. Do you remember the line I’m referencing? This rule states that people remember best in multiples of three. Moreover, ideas, themes, and main points are best arranged in threes, regardless of the speech’s length. “Government of the people – by the people – for the people.”
3) Visual Imagery through Contrasts: Lincoln’s speech creates visual imagery, a quality that creates a mental picture in the audiences’ minds, through his usage of words contrasts. For example: the “honored dead” with “living” when he cites: “dead shall not have died in vain” with “this nation … shall have a new birth of freedom.” This technique helped focus the speech’s purpose around the importance of the 7,550 lives lost in three days of battle; the reason for this address.
Lincoln illustrated to the world that a great speech is more than drafting eloquent words on paper. It includes crafting a simplistic message, following the rule of three, and using contrasts to create visual imagery that drive home your topic’s main points. Additionally, these stylistic elements inspired Dr. King’s I Have A Dream speech, particularly the opening lines, and President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address. In actual fact, President Kennedy’s speech writer, Ted Sorensen, had to study and analyze Lincoln’s address in an attempt to ‘crack the code.’
I believe the cracking of the code can be achieved by using the above elements as a guide before you make them your own, by gifting your audience with your own interpretation of three classic speech techniques of extraordinary proportion, or to conclude in Lincoln’s words: “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”
Learn more about guest author and Wixii, Hermy McCabe Balcomb.
