father listen

KhaSheana Jackson
AP
Dier
11/20/13
“Father, Listen!”
September 18, 1813 Tecumseh made an emotional heart felt speech. This speech was named Father, Listen! The Americans Have Not Yet Defeated Us by Land. In his speech he expresses that the British General is a coward who disregarded Tecumseh people in their time of need. To express his feeling about the British General Tecumseh uses different rhetorical devices such as anaphora, metaphors and pathos. In every paragraph Tecumseh starts off with Listen! or Father Listen! This is a rhetorical device called anaphora. He does this to grab our attention to show that he is serious and he wants to be herd. Also it shows his assertion in the case at hand. Tecumseh states this constantly to make sure that everyone is still with him and they know that he is not kidding and that he will express his feelings to everyone and they will listen. Throughout the speech Tecumseh uses metaphors to humiliate and show what kind of man the British General truly is. Tecumseh says things like “our father’s conduct to a fat dog, that carries its tail upon its back, but when frightened, it drops it between its legs and runs off”. By stating this Tecumseh declares that the British General is a wimp who cannot keep his word. Father? A sign of respect or a word of disgrace? Many times throughout the speech Tecumseh calls the general Father. For instance, “Father! You have got the arms and ammunition, which our great father sent for his red children.” If he thinks that the General is a wimpy snake why would he call him father? This is a sign of Pathos Tecumseh uses to show emotion. The emotion of a father who vacated his children and left them to die. He also says “We are determined to defend our lands, and if it be his will, we wish to leave our bones upon them.” This is another sign of pathos. He shows that he is willing to die for his cause with or without the British Generals help. All in all the general is told to be a man who cannot keep his word and is willing to desert his children in a time of need. Many devices where used to state this such as anaphora, metaphors and pathos. Tecumseh wisely uses these strategies to get his point across.