This Fiery Trial: The Speeches and Writings of Abraham Lincoln Overview & Chapter Abstracts for Teachers

Chapter Abstracts

Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of characters and objects. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of the text for either a student or teacher.

Preface, Prologue, and I. Peculiar Ambition Abstract

* The "Preface" explains that Abraham Lincoln was largely self-educated and his literary abilities were extraordinary.
* Lincoln's writings display his knowledge of classic texts.
* Historians are drawn to Lincoln's rhetorical skills.

II. Half Slave and Half Free Abstract

* In the "Prologue" Lincoln provided...
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