Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” Name ______

GPStandard: ELAALRL1.a-c:(non fiction) Date ______

In 1775, Patrick Henry introduced a resolution to the Virginia Convention to form the localmilitia to be prepared to fight the British. The resolution passed by five votes. Read his speech and answer the following questions in order to analyze the persuasiveness of his speech.

PURPOSE: He is calling on the patriots of Virginia to arm themselves in order to be prepared to fight the British if they do not yield to some of their demands.

AUDIENCE:The members of the Virginia Convention

OCCASION:The meeting of the Convention

TONE:Urgent, pleading, inflammatory

Paragraph 1

1. Why do you think Henry begins his speech with the statement “Mr. President: No manthinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities of the very worthygentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the samesubject in different lights.”

2. Henry says that “different men often see the same subject in different lights.” What doesthe word light mean here? Why do you think he uses it?

3. Henry states his view in saying that, “I consider it as nothing less than a question offreedom or slavery.” What does he mean by “it” and what does he use hereto be persuasive? What appeal does he create?

4. What appeal does he create when he says, “It is only in this way that we can hope to arriveat truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country”? Whatdoes truth mean to Henry?

5. What is the appeal created by juxtaposing God as the Majesty of Heaven with earthlykings? What is the effect of his using the word Majesty for God and king for King GeorgeIII?

PARAGRAPH 2

6. What rhetorical device is he using when he says, “listen to the song of that siren till shetransforms us into beasts”? Explain it and discuss what appeal it creates.

7. Henry says, “Are we disposed to be of the number of those who having eyes see not, andhaving ears hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation.” Whatrhetorical device is he using? Explain its persuasive effect and what appeal it creates.

PARAGRAPH 3

8. What rhetorical device does Henry use when he says, “I have but one lamp by which byfeet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.” How does this continue with the ideaof light representing truth and spiritual illumination from the first paragraph? What appealis created?

PARAGRAPH 4

9. Henry continues to present the evidence of the British sending armies and navies. What ishis rhetorical pattern for the presentation of this evidence? How is it persuasive? Whatappeal is created?

10. He ends this paragraph with what rhetorical device to create imagery? What appeal does itcreate?

PARAGRAPH 6

11. In the first part of this paragraph, Henry gives evidence in his inductive argument as hecites the actions which the colonists have taken to get the British to respond to some oftheir demands. What rhetorical strategies does he use and what appeal does he create?

PARAGRAPH 8

12. Paragraph 8 begins with the last opposing argument. What is it? How does Henry refuteit? In this refutation he uses what rhetorical device to create appeal to pathos?

13. In the last sentence, Henry once again makes his point that he equates British rule withdeath by saying, “but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” What syntacticaldevices does he use in this clause which makes it persuasive? What appeal does hecreate? He can be using death here in a literal sense, but he also can be using itmetaphorically. Explain his persuasive use of this metaphor.

For each of the following rhetorical devices, find an example from Patrick Henry’s speech and write it in MLA format.

CHARGED WORDS: Words that evoke an emotional response.

Example: “I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery” (Henry 101).

 Ex:

RHETORICAL QUESTION: A question to which the answer is obvious or that the speaker does not expect the listener(s) to answer.

Example: “Will it be next week, or next year?” (Henry 121).

Ex:

REPETITION: To state an idea for emphasis using the exact words two or more times.

 Ex:

RESTATEMENT: To state the same idea in a variety of ways.

Ex:

PARALLELISM: Using repeated grammatical structure to state different ideas.

Example: “so this country of the people, by the people, for the people” (Lincoln)

Ex:

ALLUSION: A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, art work, etc.

Ex: