Henry is saying that to listen to this call, this illusion of hope, even though it is tempting, will prove fatal and transform the Convention into something unable to reason and act (beasts). To be or not to be, that is the question. Consider petition (to bring written grievances) versus remonstrate (to forcefully protest) versus supplicate (to beg earnestly or humbly) versus prostrate (to totally submit) versus implore (to beg desperately). A definition speech explains a concept, theory, or philosophy about which the audience knows little. The story of the sirens, is that on an island, women would sing songs that would cause men to see them as beautiful women and go to them. Henry builds to a syllogistic argument, an appeal to logic, at the end of this paragraph. (8) Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. (54) Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. -To restate: "Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace." 34 0 obj <> endobj Even when were not aware of it, were using many of the same rhetorical techniques Aristotle, Cicero, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass. Siren calls are alluring and hard to resist even if expected, but they can be deadly. He uses ironic rhetorical questions questions that convey the opposite of what he attempts to argue. Henry uses this transition to shift the perspective from what has been heard to the ideas that he feels need to be discussed. Patrick Henrys Treason speech before the House of Burgesses on May 30, 1765. (34) Nothing. The time for vacillation is over; there is no longer any point in trying to compromise with the British. "The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave"(Par. New York: Published by Currier & Ives, c1876. While there had been unrest and resistance in Massachusetts with scattered acts of support from other areas, no organized movement toward revolution existed across the Colonies. According to Henry, which will his argument contain and which will it NOT contain? Why does he use the term "ceremony"? Give me liberty or give me death!. Give an example of an "illusion of hope" that Henry suggests in this second paragraph. What is the purpose of returning to this metaphor yet again? Minor premise [B]: Talking does not achieve results. Juxtaposition means to put two elements side by side, often for comparison. In sentence 7 he enumerates his own ethics, stating that he must speak now or be guilty of both treason to his country and disloyalty to the majesty of heaven. This reaffirms his trustworthiness with his audience. He clearly indicates that he chooses the second option. Those who can, do; those who can't do, teach. There is no longer any room for hope." Henry returns to the metaphor of slavery to strengthen his argument regarding not taking action. Would they rather ignore the situation and have dangerous outcomes (this choice is defined by the previous allusions to the sirens and Ezekiel) or instead know the truth and prepare? ", -Patrick Henry, in his speech to the Second Virginia Convention, 1775, "No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high. Henry reminds his audience that the Colonies have been trying to negotiate for ten years without results. Copyright 20102022 National Humanities Center. 25. A hypophora is useful to present to an audience issues they may not have considered in depth. Consider sentence 40, especially the verbs. 0 He prepares his audience by expresses the hope that they will show him the same respect when he states in sentence 2, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful Even though he will be speaking contrary to what has been previously presented, he reminds his audience that they are all colleagues by referring to the entire group, as in sentence 6, we can hope to arrive at the truth.. It combines the written word with music and has a unique ability to capture our imagination like no other medium. 0000004778 00000 n FL_L11PE-u01s41-VirCon.indd 226 1/28/08 4:47:05 PMFL_L11PE-u01s41-VirCon.indd 227 1/28/08 4:47:07 PM 1 Targeted Passage What is the sententia in this speech? Freedom Or Slavery: Analysis Of Patrick Henry's Speech In The Virginia Convention . How does this allusion contribute to his argument? To see how those effects work, consider these uses of antithesis in famous speeches: "We must all learn tolive togetherasbrothersor we will allperish togetherasfools. . (10) Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? In his question, he depicts the people's lack of action towards war as "lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot". Henry emphasizes the seriousness of the military response that Great Britain has already displayed. 10. To better understand what that was all about, lets take a look at a few classic examples. What rhetorical device eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. %PDF-1.4 % The use of rhetorical analysis is very useful to make works appealing and contribute effectively to the author's purpose. Why does Henry begin the second sentence with "but"? He answers it through tonal shifts and appeals. Identify the three parts of his syllogism (Major premise [A], Minor premise [B], and Conclusion), citing evidence from the text. In 1775 American independence was not a foregone conclusion. The speech was so inspiring that it ignited a massive flame of patriotism. But, how does poetry do all of this? Henry is implying that not seeing or listening to his argument will lead to destruction. He again sets up a choice for his audience. If I were forced to write out exactly what Armstrong meant with his quote, it would be something like this. "In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation? In this antithesis, Henry is putting forward two radically distinct visions of America's future before his listeners and demanding that they choose between them. This shows that their chains are meant for only the Americans to be chained and that the "war is inevitable". Do you know Patrick Henry's famous line that owes its zip to antithesis? In sentence 5, when Henry states, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery, he commits a logical fallacy. Rather than the word of God, which is the lamp found in the Biblical verse, what is the lamp that Henry uses to guide his feet in sentence 13? He recognizes and compliments the patriotism and abilities of the other members of the Convention in his first sentence (note that Henry continues to address the body as the House). For each of your examples explain how they are intended to arouse Henry's audience. Even though I am taking just a small step here on the moon, the mere fact that I am on the moon is an indication of how far we have come as a species. Those iconic words were spoken by Neil Armstrong when his foot first touched the moon. When its cold outside, Ive got the month of May. Henry uses multiple biblical allusions with which his educated audience would be familiar. (22) Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. (6) It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Resenting this British interference with local government, the members of the House of Burgesses regrouped as a state convention. "I am not a Virginian but an American" (Henry 2). He is appealing to the ethical integrity of his audience by articulating their earthly and heavenly responsibilities. This is from Ezekiel 12:2, when God describes how those who hear Ezekiel's words and do not listen will be destroyed. Henry begins this paragraph with another Biblical allusion, "one lamp by which my feet are guided" (Psalms 119:105). Perhaps one of the most famous examples of antithesis is Patrick Henry's final line of his speech: "Give me liberty or give me death!" (72) What would they have? This is the famous line from Shakespeares Hamlet. Find an example of slave imagery in this paragraph. To see how big of a difference parallelism plays, lets take a look at an example that doesnt use parallel structures. Henry states that he is willing to suffer a traitor's death rather than be denied liberty. In sentence 3 what does Henry mean when he says, this is no time for ceremony? Asyndeton is a series of phrases or words with conjunctions deleted. What argument does he anticipate and what two rhetorical strategies does he use to refute it? (sentence 66) In sentence 75, probably the most famous sentence from this speech, Henry uses antithesis to set up a clear contrast. In this lesson you will explore a famous speech by Patrick Henry (17361799), member of the Second Virginia Convention. Juxtaposition means to put two elements side by side, often for comparison. The purpose of the debate, of which this speech is a part, is to arrive at truth and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country (sentence 6). The provenance of the speech notwithstanding, Henrys words provide a rich source to study rhetorical strategies and classical argument, and that study is the focus of this lesson. In sentences 70 through 73 Henry asks a series of questions, "Why stand we here idle? In asking these questions Henry's purpose is to encourage the listener and emphasize his point. (44) If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! Henry finishes this paragraph with an appeal to logic in the form of an if then statement. Henry first mentions slavery in paragraph one when he contrasts it with freedom. In sentence 7 he enumerates his own ethics, stating that he must speak now or be guilty of both treason to his country and disloyalty to the "majesty of heaven." This reaffirms his trustworthiness with his audience. Perhaps one of the most famous examples of antithesis is Patrick Henry's final line of his speech: "Give me liberty or give me death!" Such a statement implies that there is no middle. Since Judas betrayed Christ, Henry is alluding to the British Ministry betraying the colonies. 0000001077 00000 n An example Henry uses relating King George's bane characteristics was to Judas in the Bible. Antithesis is not opposition to creating a thesis as part of an academic program, though we sympathize if you are, in fact, anti-thesis in pursuit of that masters degree. On the one hand, these are supposedly decaying corpses that belong six feet under. Henry first mentions slavery in paragraph one when he contrasts it with freedom. Sententia, especially useful in speeches, is an argumentative device that uses sound to sum up an argument. Henry cautions his audience that the hopes of the past may have been used to comfort the Convention, but such comfort is an illusion and will not last. The first paragraph of classical argument, the exordium, seeks to engage the audience and prepare them to hear the speakers message. What is the effect of this contrast? Henry believes that the situation is critical enough that any choices in between freedom and slavery are meaningless and the actions taken must be extreme. Speech is silver but silence is gold. What is the counterclaim to Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia Convention? (12) For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. The purpose of the debate, of which this speech is a part, is to "arrive at truth" and fulfill the "great responsibility which we hold to God and our country" (sentence 6). A love sonnet can raise our spirits and remind us of cherished times, while a soliloquy can let us into a characters deepest and darkest thoughts. These delegates were wealthy and powerful and they had much to lose; Henrys request was a big decision that many of them were reluctant to make. It will not include hope, because Henry explains that in order to move forward and obtain liberty, they must be fully aware of the issues at hand. For each of your examples explain how they are intended to arouse Henrys audience. Why does he make this connection? Or to take arms against a sea of trouble. He is unwilling to accept anything less than liberty, and he will fight to the death to win it. This is intended to arouse the audience by saying that they will be enslaved. Find an example of slave imagery in this paragraph. (35) We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Find an example of metonomy and synecdoche in this paragraph and identify what each represents. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. The Convention members consider themselves to be men of integrity and ethics, as Henry acknowledged in sentence 1. 1. Anyway, one reason this phrase has been immortalized is its use of antithesis. The Convention members consider themselves to be men of integrity and ethics, as Henry acknowledged in sentence 1. 0000003619 00000 n He wants the listeners to understand that there are only two options; freedom, which he is advocating, or slavery, which he knows these proud, wealthy men, many of whom are slaveholders, will not tolerate. 34. For instance, you can say that the antithesis of love isnt hate; its indifference.. How does this allusion contribute to Henry's argument? Throughout his speech, Henry repeats that the Virginia colony is badly treated by Britain, and compares it to being enslaved. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? These are the implements of war; the last arguments to which kings resort. (sentences 20 and 23). For example, during his speech, Patrick Henry speaks of how Britain will be "the next gale that sweeps." He metaphorically creates an appeal to pathos as he describes the advancement of the British military as a gale that will sweep from the north.

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