This comparison is explaining how the king will draw them in as well as forcing them into transforming their country if they chose to listen to his actions. Cite evidence from the text. How does this allusion contribute to Henry's argument? In a second example, King uses antithesis in the following: I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the. Since Judas betrayed Christ, Henry is alluding to the British Ministry betraying the colonies. (21) Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Henry uses multiple biblical allusions with which his educated audience would be familiar. Essay On Give Me Death By Patrick Henry | ipl.org The teachers guide includes a background note, the text analysiswithresponses to the close reading questions, access to the interactive exercises, and a follow-up assignment. Henry is saying that the British are clearly preparing for war, no matter what they may protest to the contrary, and therefore, the colonists need to be prepared as well. in. Antithesis is defined as a particular kind of literary device that organizes sentence structure in such a way that the sentence presents two opposing ideas in a grammatically parallel way. On the other hand, they are alive in every sense of the word. In 1775 American independence was not a foregone conclusion. He means there is no choice but to fight. Henry points out that the British military response cannot be interpreted as anything other than a direct challenge to the Colonies. The Temptations have a song called My Girl. Theres a line in it that goes like this. Cite evidence from the text. In a synecdoche, part of an element substitutes for the whole (for instance, farm hands means farm laborers). Informative Speeches Types, Topics, and Examples (55) Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. Determine Patrick Henry's tone in this speech. What is it that gentlemen wish? He uses this to highlight the fact that the people should trust him and his words. He states that it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope but in the last sentence of the paragraph he clearly says he will not do that he will know the whole truth. His argument will contain truth but will not contain illusions. (48) But when shall we be stronger? It's really an incredibly powerful rhetorical tool when used in this way. To be or not to be, that is the question. Patrick Henry and "Give Me Liberty!" - Lesson Plan - America in Class (9) 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. Most of the British military action to this point had occurred in and around Boston. For Example: 9 Alternatives For You to Choose From. Siren calls are alluring and hard to resist even if expected, but they can be deadly. 11. (40) We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. 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." Also, antithesis combines two opposing yet not necessarily contradictory ideas with each other. Antithesis is a tool that pits two opposing ideas against each other, and the result is a contrasting effect that highlights an overarching meaning. Henry reminds his audience that the Colonies have been trying to negotiate for ten years without results. His last question,"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" 33. His speech reflected language and actions far more radical that his fellow delegates were willing to go in public, but Henry based his request upon the assumption that even more aggressive military actions by the British would soon follow. 0000002338 00000 n Henry seeks to engage his audience by showing his respect for them. The speech includes several Biblical allusions revolutionary rhetoricians often used Biblical references because it allowed them to speak more strongly against Britain without using overtly treasonous speech. Such a statement implies that there is no middle groundthere are no other alternatives. 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. (13) I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. What is his purpose in first asking if they are "disposed to see not, and hear not" and then stating, "I am willing to know the whole truth: to know the worst, and to provide for it"? 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". (70) Why stand we here idle? The obvious, and unspoken, answer is liberty, of course. When its cold outside, Ive got the month of May. Patrick Henry, speech to the Virginia Convention, 1775. Languages have always been my passion and I have studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the University of Zurich. (45) I repeat it, sir, we must fight! Henry uses multiple biblical allusions with which his educated audience would be familiar. (26) Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? He uses the possessive pronoun our when discussing the chains, even though the clanking is heard is Boston. 4) means we have no choice on who rules us. Rhetorical Figures in Sound: Antithesis. Rhetorical Devices/Strategies - Patrick Henry Speech How does Henry shift from a ironic tone back to his urgent argument? Henry is implying that not seeing or listening to his argument will lead to destruction. Saint Johns Church, Richmond, Virginia, where Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. Peter F. Rothermel, Patrick Henrys Treason speech before the House of Burgesses, 1851. 22. In sentences 70 through 73, Henry uses a series of questions which directly challenge his fellow delegates. (49) Will it be the next week, or the next year? This also shows his opinion on how hoping is an illusion that does not benefit, and that action is necessary or else the British will attack and bound them. In sentence 11 he says Are we disposed of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not. This is from Ezekiel 12:2, when god describes how those who hear Ezekiels words and do not listen will be destroyed. In 1775, Patrick Henry made his speech to an audience of Virginia legislators to convince them that Virginia should join the War of Independence. While most argue optimistically about reconciliation with Britain, Henry argues that such a position is impossible. 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). You may choose words, phrases, imagery, or other language elements. 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). (24) I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Henry states that the privileges of the people will be taken away. Frederick Douglasss powerful speech, "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro," is built on juxtaposition. (The mention of Boston most probably refers to the Intolerable Acts and their enforcement.). Do you know Patrick Henry's famous line that owes its zip to antithesis? Henry begins this paragraph with another Biblical allusion, "one lamp by which my feet are guided" (Psalms 119:105). Henry's purpose in using this image in paragraph 3 is to explain that the Colonies failed when they attempted to fight (fight meaning argue) the British that are trying to enslave them. (3) This is no time for ceremony. Throughout his speech, Henry repeats that the Virginia colony is badly treated by Britain, and compares it to being enslaved. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. (sentences 26 and 27). In reality the sirens were ugly beasts, that killed the men as soon as they approached and ate them. Why does he make this connection? In sentence 75, probably the most famous sentence from this speech, Henry uses antithesis to set up a clear contrast. He sees no middle ground between a war for freedom from Great Britain or being ground down under the heel of tyranny. Britain had severely restricted Massachusetts through the Intolerable Acts; towns were voting to boycott British goods, and British soldiers were becoming a common sight in the American Colonies. 4). Find an example of Henry's return to an image of slavery at the end of this paragraph. (15) And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House? The false dichotomy (either-or) fallacy gives only two options with no choices in between, and Henry uses this intentionally. 6. For more information on text complexity see these resources from achievethecore.org. Solace is comfort during a time of distress. The refutatio presents and refutes counter arguments. 16. In sentence 7 Henry argues on the basis of ethos, which is Greek for character. Such an argument is called an ethical appeal. It attempts to win over listeners on the basis of the trustworthiness of the speaker. In sentence 58, what does Henry mean by we have no election? As his argument builds he wants to take them along with him reiterating the fact that they are esteemed colleagues. Henry uses the word "hope" several times in this speech. In asking these questions Henry's purpose is to encourage the listener and emphasize his point. endstream endobj 35 0 obj<> endobj 37 0 obj<> endobj 38 0 obj<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 39 0 obj<> endobj 40 0 obj<> endobj 41 0 obj<> endobj 42 0 obj<> endobj 43 0 obj<> endobj 44 0 obj<> endobj 45 0 obj<> endobj 46 0 obj<>stream This hypophora explains how the people cannot dream or enjoy hope, without ever experiencing it or having to fight for it. What does he contrast? There is no longer any middle position that can be adopted; there are only two choices: liberty or death. In this second paragraph of the exordium, Henry works to explain the importance and timeliness of his argument by setting up a contrast between illusions and truth in sentences 8 and 12. Major premise [A]: We must either talk or fight to achieve results. 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? He uses ironic rhetorical questions questions that convey the opposite of what he attempts to argue. 0000001077 00000 n Henry uses this transition to shift the perspective from what has been heard to the ideas that he feels need to be discussed. He makes it sound like the colonists really only have a choice between liberty and death, so which will they choose? His purpose of including it is that people will understand what the phrase is. 25. %PDF-1.4 % In this lesson you will look at Patrick Henrys speech and analyze his methods for convincing his fellow members of the Virginia Convention to take a military stance against the British. Convention delegates included slaveholders who would recognize and recoil from this imagery. Antithesis "There is no retreat but in submission and slavery." Ethos (Ethical Appeal) APPEAL: "Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power." Logos (Logical Appeal) APPEAL: " What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Give an example of an "illusion of hope" that Henry suggests in this second paragraph. The return to an image of slavery is shown when Henry says, "There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. Avec un partenaire, jouez les deux roles. In sentence 54 he appeals to Logos and pathos by citing "three millions of people (logos) armed in the holy cause of liberty (pathos), and in such a country as that which we possess (pathos, patriotism).". The time for vacillation is over; there is no longer any point in trying to compromise with the British. -To rouse: "Why stand we here idle?" But Henry felt that delay would be a major mistake. 21. Moreover, this contrast is usually aided by parallelism, or parallel structures, which draws the attention of the listener and engages them. Conclusion: Therefore, we must fight to achieve results. ", -Patrick Henry, in his speech to the Second Virginia Convention, 1775, "No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high. 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). Henry uses this term again to show and explain how the people cannot dream or imagine hope being so easy to obtain. Since were on the subject of contrasting ideas, it is worth taking a look at a few other literary devices that are usually confused with antithesis. 35. The phrase "awful moment" means a moment of great importance in the context.