examples of antithesis in patrick henry's speech

A hypophora is useful to present to an audience issues they may not have considered in depth. (51) Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? 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. Cite an example from the text of each of these four purposes. Even though he is a fellow member of the Convention, he uses a rhetorical shift to explain that what he will say from that point on will be different than that heard before. 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. (24) I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Henry's use of antithesis is particularly skillful, as it simplifies the matter at hand to such an extent that subtlety and nuance are no longer options. 37. Henry shifts tone in the beginning of this paragraph to irony, the use of language that conveys the opposite of the intended meaning. This is a persuasive speech, one intended not only to present an argument but also to persuade the audience to act. Already a member? Such an argument is called an "ethical appeal." People were interested in and aimed for liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity . Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?". What was the purpose of the "Speech to the Virginia Convention"? How, in this sentence, does Henry suggest that his listeners can trust him? Find at least one example of hypophora in this paragraph and explain its contribution to Henry's argument. Patrick Henry, speech to the Virginia Convention, March 23, 1775, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/patrick.asp, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/det.4a26383/, http://www.richmond.com/image_d0936222-3d78-11e2-9cd8-001a4bcf6878.html, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsca.34917/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Henry#/media/File:Patrick_Henry_Rothermel.jpg, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b50326/, Lexington and Concord: Tipping Point of the Revolution, ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.1 (cite evidence to analyze specifically and by inference), ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.4 (determine the meaning of words and phrases), ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.6 (determine authors point of view), Key Concept 3.1 (IIB) (arguments about rights of British subjects, the rights of the individual,), The first two paragraphs form the introduction (, The third paragraph provides the statement of fact (, The fourth paragraph presents and refutes counter arguments (, The final paragraph forms the conclusion (, Text analysis and close reading questions. He is suggesting that radical change, either positive or negative, needs to happen and will happen in order for the colonies to become free. The students version, an interactive PDF, contains all of the aboveexceptthe responses to the close reading questions and the follow-up assignment. It tells us that a Green Lanterns duty is to fight evil during the best of times and the worst of times. Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Consider sentence 42, In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. Identify the parenthesis and Henrys purpose for including it. Consider sentence 42, "In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation." In paragraph 4 Henry uses procatalepsis, an argumentative strategy that anticipates an objection and then answers it. How does this allusion contribute to Henry's argument? 4). (63) The war is inevitable and let it come! He contrasts liberty and death, concluding that without liberty death is preferable. Statue of Patrick Henry, Richmond, Virginia. Antithesis - The Lost Art of the Great Speech: How to Write It * How to "There is no longer any room for hope. How does Henry attempt to connect the fate of Virginia to that of Boston, and why would he wish to make this connection? He reminds his audience that he, like them, is a believer and is trustworthy. On the other hand, they are alive in every sense of the word. (42) In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. 3. 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.". What is the purpose of returning to this metaphor yet again? Accessed 4 Mar. (37) What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Patrick Henry's Speech Against The Tumultuous States Of The Colonies What is Henry's purpose in using this image in paragraph 3? Why do you think Henry begins his speech with the statement "Mr. President: No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. Henry seeks to engage his audience by showing his respect for them. Those iconic words were spoken by Neil Armstrong when his foot first touched the moon. (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. The two clauses of the sentence are parallel because each starts off with an infinitive verb and ends with an adjective ("human" and "divine"). (31) Shall we try argument? Give an example of an illusion of hope that Henry suggests in this second paragraph. Asyndeton is a series of phrases or words with conjunctions deleted. (18) Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. What are examples of anaphora in the "Speech to the Virginia Convention"? Will it be the next week, or the next year? In an environment of digital media and world-wide instant communication, students may wonder how Henrys words were preserved. MR. PRESIDENT: (1) No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. Henry uses parallelism (structuring phrases in similar fashion) several times in this paragraph. The Convention members consider themselves to be men of integrity and ethics, as Henry acknowledged in sentence 1. This stark choice is designed to make Henry's audience realize just what is at stake. He states in sentence 44, If we wish to be free [then] we must fight! How does Henrys final statement, Give me liberty or give me death represent the courage of both Henry and his audience? (69) Our brethren are already in the field! He sees no middle ground between a war for freedom from Great Britain or being ground down under the heel of tyranny. "In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation? Such a statement implies that there is no middle groundthere are no other alternatives. Logos In Patrick Henry's Speech. 11. In the question above, the British assembly of "fleets and armies," instruments of war, is antithetical to ideas of "love and reconciliation." Henry will contain the truth in his argument regardless of the cost of realizing the illusion of hope and will try to use the truth to benefit their cause. 7. Henry uses the word "hope" several times in this speech. 0000006207 00000 n The first paragraph of classical argument, the exordium, seeks to engage the audience and prepare them to hear the speakers message. This was an either/or choice with nothing in between, and a traitors death was quite likely if the patriot efforts failed. In sentence 58, what does Henry mean by we have no election? By now, I hope you see how common antithesis is. Henry finishes this paragraph with an appeal to logic in the form of an "if then" statement. What is the purpose of returning to this metaphor yet again? No guts, no glory. Determine Patrick Henry's tone in this speech. Patrick Henry, speech to the Virginia Convention, March 23, 1775. and other greats haveemployedin public speaking. This was intended to arouse the audience because Henry states that they will be betrayed by the British. For example, we describe zombies as the living dead, which illustrates their contradictory nature. 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." Another function of the exordium is to explain the purpose of the speech. The parenthesis is after these things, and Henry is referring to the Colonies attempts at reconciliation. On the one hand, these are supposedly decaying corpses that belong six feet under. (72) What would they have? No pain, no gain. One really famous example is Neil Armstrong's statement as he stepped onto the moon's surface; he said, "One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." 12. 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? Find at least one example of hypophora in this paragraph and explain its contribution to Henrys argument. He uses rhetorical strategies and appeals to further develop his argument, making sure that each item is contextualized from the Colonial perspective. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated; [we] have implored He uses the parallel structure to indicate the process by which the Colonies have taken multiple steps to resolve differences. Hx* 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). How does Henry shift from a ironic tone back to his urgent argument? Because Henry sees the options as slavery (in submitting to Britain) or freedom (in successfully asserting independence), and because Henry refuses to accept this kind of "slavery," the only options left were liberty and death. What is Henry's response to those who say the colonists are too weak to fight the British? This statement will try to convince the reader to fight for hope instead of dream of it. 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. Freedom Or Slavery: Analysis Of Patrick Henry's Speech - GradesFixer To see how those effects work, consider these uses of antithesis in famous speeches: "We must all learn tolive togetherasbrothersor we will allperish togetherasfools. (21) Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? He connects this with the biblical verse because it shows that he knows what he is doing, and how it will guide him along the path. What does Henry mean by "awful moment" in sentence 4? HdSMo0W(*d0X;dm7v)I4E=>]\",w:CM_U[:teQj5y^^Nl5sIF)RVbZ)^9* Z\ {y%MA.z1rf HlBRV@O]TnIfa_L6J" (3). Henry begins the second sentence with "but" to show he is continuing his previous thought. "Where is antithesis in Patrick Henry's speech to the Virginia Convention?" Another comparison that is seen in the speech is correlating to King George as a siren. What is the effect of this contrast? In this lesson students will deconstruct Patrick Henrys famous speech to explore the tools of effective persuasion, including appeals, rhetorical strategies, and classical argument. 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). (70) Why stand we here idle? In his powerful, dramatic speech to the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry wants to instill a sense of urgency in his listeners. Convention delegates included slaveholders who would recognize and recoil from this imagery. (4) The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. The foot of the throne (sentence 41) is metonomy, representing the King. This speech was recreated in 1817 by William Wirt of Maryland, who published the first biography of Patrick Henry. In sentence 7 Henry is asking them to understand that he likewise is compelled to speak based on his own sense of integrity (if he holds back, he would consider himself "guilty of treason"). xb```"Veah`0-:ov;gatI\$KID)n'*,2DUHCxbKZKbA%>H2Xf`XKt|yN*0cn{ Y@ 0 (28) They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. By eliminating other options he is focusing his argument. For Example: 9 Alternatives For You to Choose From. He believes the British represent Judas and that while they will appear brotherly to the Colonies they will betray, leading to Colonial downfall. This allusion contributes to Henry's argument by drawing parallels between hope and the sirens, implying that hope is tempting to fall into, but is detrimental in the long run. Formez la question que Caroline pose. (45) I repeat it, sir, we must fight! How does Henry use both parallelism and verb choice (diction) to explain that the Colonies have tried many steps to maintain peace? When you juxtapose two things, you place them next to each other to highlight either their similarities or their differences. When using parallelism, you are replicating the same exact sentence structure. When Henry states "there is no time for ceremony" he means there isn't time for idle talk and people should start to take action. (16) Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Why does Henry use the term gentlemen twice in the first two sentences? And he wants the members of his audience to do likewiseto take up arms in defense of American liberty against a power that has so frequently and blatantly violated it. 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. What allusion does Henry use in sentence 9 when he says listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts? How does this allusion contribute to his argument? An example Henry uses relating King George's bane characteristics was to Judas in the Bible. In sentences 70 through 73 Henry asks a series of questions, "Why stand we here idle? Henry uses the term "gentlemen" twice in the first two sentences to show his respect for speakers that have come before him. If they do not take action they will end up being enslaved for sure. A 1929 Debate, The Marshall Plan Speech: Rhetoric and Diplomacy. Henry used not only rhetorical devices but also the strategies of classical argument, making a potentially confusing situation simple and straightforward as he attempted to move all his fellow delegates toward the same result. In sentence 3 what does Henry mean when he says, "this is no time for ceremony"? 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. Identify the parenthesis and Henry's purpose for including it. 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. 21. By appealing to religion as he calls upon the majesty of heaven, Henry makes an ethical (ethos) appeal that his audience will understand intellectually and emotionally. 39. Give an example of an "illusion of hope" that Henry suggests in this second paragraph. What does he contrast? There is alliteration, assonance, imagery, metaphor, rhyme, and onomatopoeia. 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. His recommendations were accepted by the Convention. And what have we to oppose to them? It is my utmost pleasure to share with all of you guys what I know about languages and linguistics in general. 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. 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. How does he convey a ironic tone? Anyone who is a DC fan knows that the above phrase is from the oath of the Green Lanterns. 0000004268 00000 n He uses this to highlight the fact that the people should trust him and his words. Prsentez ensuite la sce\`{e}ene a\`{a}a la classe. In sentences 70 through 73, Henry uses a series of questions which directly challenge his fellow delegates. He is linking this part of his argument to the exordium and explaining that any chance of hope no longer exists. in. 31. 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. 5. Or to take arms against a sea of trouble. Juxtaposition means to put two elements side by side, often for comparison.