Shock and Awe

Fame found Abraham Lincoln before he was ready for the scrutiny of the camera.

1860

Introduction

The Republican Party convention in Chicago, Illinois, on May 16th-18th, 1860, nominated lawyer Abraham Lincoln as candidate for the President of the USA, with Hannibal Hamlin of Maine as his running-mate. Some three years earlier, Lincoln (who had previously represented the city in Congress) had sat for photographer Alexander Hesler in his Chicago studio.

by Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865

When I was nominated at Chicago, an enterprising fellow thought that a great many people would like to see how Abe Lincoln looked, and, as I had not long before sat for a photograph, the fellow, having seen it, rushed over and bought the negative. He at once got out no end of wood-cuts, and so active was their circulation they were soon selling in all parts of the country. Soon after they reached Springfield I heard a boy crying them for sale on the streets. “Here’s your likeness of Abe Lincoln!” he shouted. “Buy one, price only two shillings! Will look a good deal better when he gets his hair combed!”

by Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865

Précis

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for the Presidency of the USA. His face was not well known then, and someone had the bright idea of selling off a snapshot of him to the public. Lincoln himself heard a boy offering them for sale in the street, and promising that the print would look better once Lincoln combed his hair.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Shock and Awe

Introduction

Précis

Questions for Critics

Tags

Read Next