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Rhetorical devices patrick henry
Rhetorical analysis of patrick henry's speech pdf
Rhetorical analysis of patrick henry's speech pdf
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On the date of March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry delivered his intense “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death” speech in front of the Virginia House of Burgesses at St.John’s Church. Henry convinced the unsure and unwilling crowd that they needed to fight. Henry uses many devices like metaphors, allusions, metonymy and anaphora through his address to rally the crowd to fight. Henry uses metaphors throughout his speech to encourage the audience to take action. “It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope,” Henry states. What he means through the excerpt is it is common for people to try to have hope in hopeless situations so that they won’t be so scared, but now they have to realize that the only real hope they have is to fight back even if there is death and destruction along the way; the hope they have for a bright future will be real and not an illusion to make them feel less frightened. This quote is effective because it makes the audience realize that their only hope is to fight back against Britain. Another use of a metaphor that Henry uses to encourage the crowd to fight is, “We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.” What the metaphor means is people …show more content…
This is important because if America would be more willing to fight Britain if they knew the government hated them. Henry says, ”[...]and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne.” Henry uses metonymy to refer “the foot of the throne” to the King to convey the immense power and hatred the leader of Britain has for America and how they are just servants to take advantage of in his eyes. Henry says that to make America hate Britain in response. This excerpt shows that Henry is expressing that the ruler of Britain and of
Patrick Henry’s effective diction emphasizes how much the British had suppressed the colonists and that it was time to fight for their freedom. Henry displays this through his strong use of pathos, logos, and ethos. His rhetorical questions really appeal to the logic and ethics of the colonists and leaves the no choice but to join him and rebel.
In the “Speech at the Virginia Convention” Patrick Henry tries to persuade colonists to fight a war against the English; he uses several main rhetorical strategies such as; parallelism, metaphor, and rhetorical questions.
Henry’s speech to Virginia uses several tactics to get your attention; the stress at the time was overwhelming as the pressure from Britain to dissemble and succumb intensified. “It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country.” His intention behind involving God and religion
The first piece of evidence that I found is, “Let us not deceive ourselves, sir…They are meant for us; they can ne meant for no other” (lines 41-47). This explaining why are there extra troops and military? It makes them think why use all extra? Not on us? Another piece of evidence is whenever the text said, “And what have we to oppose to them? ... Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplications?” (lines 50-54). This here is explaining they need to think about the past and that nothing has changed. That is two ways how Henry used the logic appeal,
There are few speeches in the American history that compel us towards great acts of patriotism. Patrick Henry's speech in the Virginia Provincial Convention of 1775 is a prime example of one of these great speeches. During the debates on whether or not to compromise with Great Britain, Patrick Henry proposed the idea to his fellow members of the First Continental Congress to declare war on Great Britain. A reason why the speech was so powerful was the rhetorical strategies of the diction of slavery, the appeal to God, and the appeal to logic, that he deftly employed.
When it comes to the topic of the American Revolution, most of us will readily agree that it influenced essentially every code of ethics in today’s society. Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine address an identical topic. That is, they both provided inspiration to the American Revolution cause. Patrick henry on one point of view, speaks of the harshness of the British rule over the American colonies. In his statement, Patrick Henry addresses the oppressive British rule and emphasis grounds to maintain basic human rights. “Common Sense”, on the other hand stresses on the trials and tribulations of the American colonies under the British rule. With the use of persuasion in their writings, both Henry and Paine support the war against the Great Britain.
In addressing the Wellesley High School class of 2012, David McCullough, Jr., uses rhetorical devices such as logos, pathos and literacy devices to argue the uneasy fact to the grads that every person is not special and thus should not try to accomplish everything in life.
Henry, Patrick. 23 Mar. 1775. Give me Liberty or Give me Death. St. John's Church. Richmond, VA. 7 Dec 2013.
Many speeches have shaped the nation we live in today. Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention” and Benjamin Franklin’s “Speech in the Convention” are two of the most prominent speeches that have assisted in the forging of our new nation. The “Speech in the Virginia Convention” serves to encourage those that listened to take arms against the British and fight the injustice being done to them. The “Speech in the Convention” admits to the imperfections of the Constitution but supports its ultimate purpose. Both Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin believe leaders must do away with compromise and lead when it’s best for the people as a whole. However, Patrick discourages any future compromise, while Benjamin Franklin feels that future
The eighteenth century, a time of turmoil and chaos in the colonies, brought many opinionated writers to the forefront in support or refutation of the coming American Revolution. This highly controversial war that would ultimately separate the future United States of America from Great Britain became the center of debate. Two writers, both of whom supported the Revolution, now stand to fully illuminate one side of the debate. Thomas Paine, a radical propagandist, wrote many pieces during this time including “The Crisis Number 1” (1776). Through writing, he appealed to the “common man” in order to convince them to gather their arms and fight for their freedom. In this document, he utilizes many of the same rhetorical skills and propaganda techniques as Patrick Henry, a convincing orator, did in his famous speech delivered to the state’s delegates in 1775. Among these techniques are transfer, abstract language, and pathos. In both works, these were used to call the audiences to war. These influential pieces both contained a call to action which, through the use of strong and decisive language, aided the beginning of the American Revolution.
“Give me liberty or give me death!” This statement from Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” delivered to the House of Burgesses, has been quoted by many, becoming almost cliché. However, the declaration is truly understood by a select few. The unjust Stamp Act passed by the British crown in 1765, brought fame and notoriety to Henry as he spoke out against the unjust taxation without representation. Ten years later on the eve of revolution, Henry calls upon the Colonial government of which he is part, to act for the betterment of the people. Patrick Henry attempts to persuade the House of Burgesses to revolt and declare war against Britain by logically convincing them that it is their natural right to be free and calling on their patriotism and pride as leaders of colonial America.
Patrick Henry portrays ethos in his speech by using rhetorical devices, such as diction and biblical allusions. Henry stated, "Sir, we are
Who would not want to have their voice heard by so many people if it could change lives of everyone who is listening? Almost two centuries ago the people of United States were Christians, they wanted peace and had pride in the country. Hearing about someone who believed in God the same way they did made that person worthier to listen to. The way Patrick Henry connects to the colonists is by the analogies he uses and the motion he gives when he speaks.
“I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.” The time is 1775, and Patrick Henry is tasked with delivering a speech to the Virginia Convention to convince them to form a militia. He was a respected lawyer and was heavily opposed to Britain’s policies. Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” uses pathos to tell the colonists that they have no time to compromise with the British and that the British will show them no mercy. Henry’s usage of pathos helps instill fear into the colonists. “There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!” (Henry 4). Henry says that if the colonists back down, they will become slaves
Patrick Henry addressed his audience, after others had gone to oppose Virginia joining the fight for independence. The others thought that peaceful negotiations were the way to go and the hope of avoiding war was their motivation. Henry believed it was time to stand up against British rule and wanted his fellow Virginians to join him in opposition of the British government. Henry was a patriot but felt that the British took advantage of the colonies and did not have their best interest at heart. He became a patriot for America and American liberation from England. The control the British had over the colonies was unjust, the colonist had no representation in the British Parliament and no voice in their own governing. The people wanted their vote to count and be represented by ...