Lincoln In Writing
The most famous of Lincoln's writings are renowned for the beauty and brilliance of the prose, and for the way he could encapsulate the most sprawling of topics. Less famously and less often, Lincoln used his control of language for humorous effect, and he sometimes infused wit into his writings in unexpected ways.
Remember, wit can take many forms and be used for many purposes--and they aren't all funny. |
Essential Question: For what purposes did Lincoln use humor in his writing?
Directions:
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Primary Sources from Lincoln: Each document contains examples of Lincoln's humor or wit.
Secondary Sources from Historians: Read several historians' views of Lincoln's humor, and consider how some of their insights might be useful to you as you produce your own close reading of one of Lincoln's documents.
- Speech Concerning the State Bank, January 11, 1837: Lincoln expresses cynicism about politicians
- Letter to Eliza Browning, April 1, 1838: Lincoln recounts his failed relationship with Mary Owens
- The "Rebecca" Letter, August 27, 1842: Lincoln adopts a pseudonym and feigns semi-literacy in order to mock a state politician
- Letter to Union Delegation, June 9, 1864: Lincoln acknowledges, in a self-deprecating manner, his nomination for president by the National Union delegation
- Interview with Alexander W. Randall and Joseph T. Mills, August 19, 1864: Lincoln muses on a racially-charged situation during the Lincoln-Douglas debates
Secondary Sources from Historians: Read several historians' views of Lincoln's humor, and consider how some of their insights might be useful to you as you produce your own close reading of one of Lincoln's documents.
- Paul M. Angle: "Lincoln's Power with Words"
- Benjamin P. Thomas: "Lincoln's Humor: An Analysis"
- P. M. Zall: "Abe Lincoln Laughing," from The Historian’s Lincoln: Pseudohistory, Psychohistory, and History (see pp. 3-18)
- Norman A. Graebner: "Commentary on 'Abe Lincoln Laughing'," from The Historian’s Lincoln: Pseudohistory, Psychohistory, and History (see pp. 19-25)
Mentor Text: "A Fair Match for Falstaff" offers a close reading of Lincoln's Letter to Eliza Browning, and incorporates additional primary and secondary sources. Read the unabridged version at Quora, or view the video version below. (For additional close reading mentor texts, see the Teacher Resources.)