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Analysis of patrick henry speech
Analyze Patrick Henry's speech
Rhetorical analysis of patrick henry's speech pdf
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In the speech ‘’to the Virginia Convention’’, Patrick Henry convince colonists to fight Britain through the use of 4main rhetorical devices; parallelism, imagery, logos and rhetorical questions. Patrick henrys rhetorical questions suggests how problematic is peace, and how we should not avoid the issue. Parallelism is manufactured to gain focus and audience’s attentions by repeating the statement. Patrick Henry quotes: “I’m willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and to provide for it’’(264), he employs this language to captivate the attention of fans and the entire audience at his speech, so all will realize the problem faced. Patrick Henry uses imagery to demonstrate pictures to his audience at the time. He’s
“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” This mantra from Margaret Mead is a somewhat humorous yet slightly satirical spin on how people tend to think of themselves as one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable human specimens. However, one English teacher from Wellesley High School takes this critique one step further with his polemic presentation at the school commencement. David McCullough, a Massachusetts English teacher, gave a seemingly somber sendoff to his graduates in 2012, with a speech that contained some unapologetically harsh sentiments. However, by looking past the outwardly dismal surface of the speech, the students can infer a more optimistic message. By incorporating devices of asyndeton, paradox, antimetabole, and anadiplosis, McCullough conveys to each student that even though none of them is unique, their commonality is not a fault they all have merit and should strive to view the world through a more selfless lens.
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
Patrick Henry was known as “the Orator of Liberty” and created his name with his speeches. When colonists were divided in 1775, some were hoping to work it out but not Patrick Henry. He thought the only choice was to go to war with Great Britain. Henry uses ethos, pathos, and logos to show his clause for going to war with Britain.
The use of the anadiplosis, “I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there had been in the conduct of the British ministry...with which gentlemen...solace themselves and the house?”, further strengthens his use of logic by presenting the Congress with evidence of the British ministry’s insidious ways. He then inquires the Congress, through a series of rhetorical questions, such as, “Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?”, in order to scrutinize the actions of the British ministry, causing fear of the future and of reconciliation to resonate within the Congress. Patrick Henry uses a hypophora when saying, “Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call for all his accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she had none.” This clearly indicates that the British have sent armies across the sea in order to do battle with America, that there is no other outcome but one of war. Patrick Henry delivers more parallelism throughout his speech as it escalates to draw out emotions such as anger. For example, he repeats the words ‘petitioned’, ‘remonstrated’, ‘supplicated’, and ‘prostrated’, to convey the frustration of seceding from Great Britain. By using the symploce and epimone in, “If we wish to be free, if we mean to
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.
Repetition is often used in oral literature to emphasize key or important points. Since this piece was originally spoken as a speech to the delegates, Henry uses repetition throughout it. His most obvious use of repetition is when he states “we must fight! I repeat is, sir, we must fight!” (72). This not only emphasizes his main point of the speech, but
Looking back in American history, it is needless to say that there were many trials and tribulations that were overcome to achieve the freedom U.S citizens have today. In retrospect, it is astonishing how the colonists were oppressed by the British for more than a century and finally joined together with courage to revolt against them. This type of revolution would not have been alive if it were not for the art of rhetoric. Political icons in American history used rhetoric to stoke the wrath of colonists to revolt against the British. Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, significantly used visual rhetoric to persuade the colonies to unite together with his first political cartoon entitled, “Join, or Die,” which was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754. Benjamin Franklin used his credibility to establish a well-crafted rhetorical illustration, in which its symbolization, initials, and caption all play an active role in the ground breaking drawing, which changed the minds of colonists towards the pursuit of freedom that is exercised today.
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.
Lincoln cleverly uses the rhetorical devices of juxtaposition, parallelism, and repetition. Juxtaposition is the comparison of two ...
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, writer of the famous speech, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” captured a thousand listeners with his persuasive words during the boycott of British goods. During this time, the American Revolution was taking place and for Patrick Henry to make such a worthy speech without any preparations deserves a massive round of applause. The area St. John’s Church Richmond, Virginia was a chosen place that a hundred delegates would have a political meeting to the Virginia Convention but during this time Patrick Henry made an unprepared speech. In his speech, he represents the people’s needs and problems about the bloodlust of war and how an army should be created on the behalf of the people. He makes valid statements
Florence Kelley appeals to the masses that the conscription of unregulated child labor is abhorring through the use of ethos, juxtaposition, and pathos. Kelley’s speech tackles on one of her main goals in life, regulations on child labor. Her speech moved the masses to fight for the rights of children, and she won. Kelley is responsible for the safe working conditions and the child labor laws that the United States has in implementation today.
One rhetorical strategy P.Henry uses in his speech is parallelism. Here's one example of parallelism Patrick Henry applies in his speech; “I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and provide for it.” Sir Patrick is saying that he is ready to know the truth and to solve it. Here's another example of parallelism; “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne.” He is reminding the colonists what they have tried with England, to no avail.
It is widely believed that if Patrick Henry had not given the speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” which influenced the start of the Revolutionary War, then America might still be under the rule of the British Monarchy. The Revolutionary War was the war when America regained their freedom from the British Monarchy in 1783. Henry is considered by many to be the best orator of his time. Patrick Henry was an attorney and politician; his most important characteristic was being one of America’s most renowned patriots. The effects of his speech were enriching and brought new hope to the American people. People present in the Church could only truly tell the atmosphere that remained at St. John’s Church after Henry concluded his speech. William Wirt (Biographer of Patrick Henry) tells how it felt in the Church, “He took his seat. No murmur of applause was heard. The effect was too deep. After the trance of a moment, several members started from their seats. The cry, ‘to arms!’ seemed to quiver on every lip and gleam from every eye.” The audience can easily connect with Henry’s speech due to the fact they believed in liberty and would protect it at any cost. The speech was so radical because of the pathos that was used. Henry’s use of allusion and antithesis helps develop pathos to convince the House of Burgesses that beginning the Revolutionary War with Great Britain is necessary, to prevent them from forcing America into submission and slavery, in the speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.”
and not fit for being a king. I expected Henry V to be angry and yell