Preview

Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech By Patrick Henry

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
666 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech By Patrick Henry
The quote delivered by the brave, intelligent, and risk taking Patrick Henry states “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience” (Henry 3). As a citizen of the United States, Henry states this to let the citizens know that his speech contains all accurate information from his personal knowledge and experiences. In addition, it demonstrates that he is only guiding the colonists in the right direction towards freedom. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech To The Virginia Convention” he displays rhetorical questions and expressive exclamatory sentences to influence the colonists to join the fight for peace and freedom. Henry utilizes rhetorical questioning by making the colonists analyze and reflect to themselves

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In his speech to the Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, lawyer Patrick Henry addressed delegates of the St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, on the issue of the inevitable war with Britain. Henry’s purpose was to encourage the delegation to take up arms in the form of a militia and actively resist the oppression of Britain. By using a series of rhetorical questions and appealing to the delegation’s religious tendencies as well as their strong senses of patriotism, Henry delivered a powerful speech to encourage them to act on their hopes of liberty.…

    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention”(1775) Patrick Henry convinced colonist to fight against Britain; he constructed extensive use of three main rhetorical devices in his speech to persuade colonist to go to war and fight for what they truly desire. Presenting his speech in House of Burgesses, Henry sincerely respected his audience to gain their respect and attention to comprehend his urgency.…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Patrick Henry gave a speech in 1775 to the Virginia Convention that convinced them to take action and fight back against Great Britain for their freedom because their methods of hope and petition failed to work. First, he used concession to opposition in the beginning of his speech to acknowledge the arguments and thoughts of the preceding speakers so that he could speak freely while he suggested treason. Secondly, he pointed out how despite the obvious facts of the start of a war, the convention continued to hope even without response from Britain. Henry stated, “Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land" (Henry). In addition, Henry contradicted…

    • 285 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The incredibly influential revolutionary Patrick Henry once heroically shouted “Give me Liberty or Give Me Death!” During this time, the Revolutionary War had been taking place. This era included the American colonies struggling to gain independence and officially become a nation of their own. In order to do so, some believed it was only necessary to rebel against the British Rule. Despite Henry’s proficient use of all three techniques, he most efficiently persuaded using pathos persuasion. Patrick Henry’s speech given to the Virginia House of Burgesses, known as the “Speech to the Virginia Convention”, expressed the demanding truth and dramatic perspective in which was utilized successfully in his convincing approach.…

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Leading up to the fierce and fiery confrontations at Lexington and Concord, a tumultuous period of debate and negotiation ensued regarding the preferred response of the colonies to British encroachment on their rights. The meeting of Virginian representatives in March of 1775 would prove to be a fruitless affair; that is, until a young, ardent lawyer by the name of Patrick Henry delivered an impassioned oration, with the intent of elucidating upon the reality of the situation: that the then-colonies were being driven to militant opposition of their royal overlords, and that to continue on passively would be to “retreat...[into] submission and slavery.” In his speech, Patrick Henry persuades the convention, and thereby the people, of the necessity of revolution through his employment of metaphorical imagery, stylized religious and mythological allusions, and a slew of rhetorical questions. In a blaze of libertarian sentiment, Henry incited the passions of the delegates and set the stage for the most glorious revolution in the history of mankind.…

    • 1600 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth and fulfill the great responsibility” (Henry 102). In 1775 people feared that America would never gain its independence from Britain and Patrick Henry changed that. Patrick Henry wanted to convince the congress to raise a militia to fight back the British. To do so Patrick Henry used Pathos in his speech “To the Virginia Convention” and was able to persuade his audience into raising a militia.…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Patrick Henry starts off his argument beautifully. He geniusly changes the mindset of the audience by complementing them, “...very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house...” He then clarifies that he is not being disrespectful, even if his opinion is almost completely opposite to theirs. This is an excellent way to start, as it lowers tensions in the room and opens up the minds of the house to listen. It also serves as his first defense.…

    • 175 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    What would make you risk your life for a cause that was seldom considered achievable? At the time Patrick Henry gave his speech most Americans at the time were small farmers, and they all had the same fear of Britain invading the colonies. Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” utilizes logos to persuade his fellow colonists to fight the British.…

    • 333 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During 1775, the American Colonies had a dispute between each other in the Virginia Convention on whether a war should be declared against Britain. For one of the meetings, Patrick Henry, an attorney and politician, gave a speech explaining his position on why the colonies should go to war. In his speech, Henry successfully applied the rhetorical strategies of metaphor and repetition to convey his argument that a war against Britain was the only right course of action to take.…

    • 550 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I believe Greene reiterates the quote to give us show just how important the understanding of the concept he's trying to come forth to us is. He gives us a scenario to be able to get a more thorough understanding of the entire thing. The metaphor Burke uses is stating that no matter what the argument is, there will be two sides for/against that claim. There will be people who agree with you and there will definitely be people who will go against you. Entirely, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and they will stick to it. They will bring up past arguments to dispute the one you're in right now and even when you're done putting your perspective in it, the argument will continue. The way it presents writing is that many people have written…

    • 189 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As the basic human right, we are all enjoying the inherent freedom since we were born. However, 200 years ago, a group of people was fighting for their freedom perseveringly. On 23rd. March, 1765, Patrick Henry, who is the leading lights of American Revolution, gave the speech in front of Virginian audience. He responded the oppressive against the control of British. he turned colonial ideas against negotiation with England and toward armed rebellion. Patrick Henry illustrates the themes of freedom in the speech to Virginia convention through the use of the statement that there is no middle ground between freedom and slavery, the experience that how British desecrates their freedom and the emphasis on the importance of freedom.…

    • 490 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Douglas is addressing white American citizens or slaveholders. No, Douglas is not happy to be speaking to the crowd because of what has happened in the past and present concerning the issue of slavery. Douglas is claiming that the American people have strayed from the founding ideas of liberty and justice. The key message Douglas is conveying towards the group gathered is that how can a country be freedom based, but yet so limited to which types of people are allowed that freedom. Yes, in fact I think Douglas delivered the speech in the perfect setting. Douglas spoke on July 4th, which was a day of celebrating freedom. He revealed to the citizens that not every type of individual was free. Douglas was bashing the idea of slavery and how it…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Henry not only used moral credibility, but also made me feel frustration. When Henry passionately states, “We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain” I immediately felt frustrated. When Henry used the words “in every light of which it is capable” I was irritated by the rejection of the colonists efforts. I had not realized the great effort us colonists had put into fighting for freedom, and that effort is not something that should be overlooked. The frustration began to fade away as he inspired me by his logic. When Henry was explaining our past efforts to gain freedom, he uses the wise words, “I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past” my mind started to turn. As a colony, we have constantly been threatened by the King’s actions, so what is different now? We are still under a tyrannical authority who abuses his power, and we must take a stand. Patrick Henry’s speech was inspiring, and persuaded me to put my life on the line to ensure freedom is upon our colony. Please do not worry too much about my sudden shift in…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A role of an individual in society can be played many ways, one of them being that people should fight for their country. This can be exhibited in "Speech to the Virginia Convention" by Patrick Henry ,where Henry believes his country should fight for freedom against the British. He is calling on the patriots of Virginia to arm themselves in order to be prepared to fight.. The author encourages this message by using emotional appeals and literary devices. In the text, the author exposes the audience to prepare for war by conveying them to fight for their country.…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Henry uses motivation to inspire the colonists to be an independent country where the individual is free rather than being under England's rule. This shows in Henry quote “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” This quote shows the power of how one individual can motivate other individuals.…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays