Speech to the Virginia Convention
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Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” historically served as a means to patriotic fervor. It compelled listeners to immediately dismiss what previous speakers had articulated about passivity and acquiescence to British domination. Henry’s efficacious usage of emotional diction, classical allusions and rhetorical questions ignited a firestorm of animosity against the colonial rule; the emotion was unquenchable with anything less than liberty for the colonial people. The speech today conveys the spirit of that independence. One can look at it as a piece of context, illuminating the illustrious fruition of Enlightenment and revolutionary thinking of its day. In looking at diction the reader cannot help but share the poignancy of the moment. With allusions such as those that compare loyalist sentiments to deceptive siren calls one knows that their cowardliness is false. The rhetorical questions demand that the listener and reader have a vision of the militaristic and iniquitous presence of the British in America. Through diction, allusions, and rhetorical questions, Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” convinces belief in the spirit of autonomous thought and emotion, characteristic of the Enlightenment. The “Speech to the Virginia Convention” reflects the Rationalist ideal of liberty through its ardent vocabulary. Henry states, “For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery” (81). Henry oversimplifies the colonist’s situation with an either-or fallacy, emotionally putting their decision to fight or not in the imagery of bondage or independence; however, his ongoing trope of comparing their situation to slavery taps into the emotional spirit of freedom that these educated merchants, lawyers and farmers have come to appreciate. His use of the words “my” and “I” reemphasize the argument. He also exclaims, “They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging” (82). The diction “bind and rivet”, “chains” and “forging” connotatively gives a feeling of cold hard metal, the slamming of a metal hammer onto metal pins, the clanking cacophony of the shackles, and the restricting of movement. Henry also uses figurative language to invoke the imagery of an oncoming storm. He describes how they must “avert the storm which is now coming on” (82) and “the next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!” (83). In Henry’s day storms were unpredictable calamities, but his metaphor suggests that he can see this war coming. It will “sweep” over them whether they want it to or not, and further dissonance can be heard in the near future with the “clash of resounding arms.” He finishes the speech of course with the climactic, hyperbolic expression of “give me liberty or give me death!” Again he puts their situation in an extreme binary, which, while logically unsound, has the emotional triumph he is looking for. It “didn’t hurt” either that he faked stabbing himself with a letter opener with this expression, making everyone in the audience momentarily believe that he had taken his own life because he couldn’t be free. In addition to the fervid words Henry also makes use of allusions. The allusions to both Greek mythology and the bible make the speech persuasive by tapping into the Enlightenment spirit of these colonists. PARAGRAPH ON THE ALLUSIONS TO THE SIRENS, CIRCE, THE HEBREWS, AND JESUS BEING BETRAYED WITH A KISS BY JUDAS The allusions thereby create a lot of effect in the rhetoric; subsequently, the rhetorical questions do too. Henry’s catalogue of interrogative retorts gives his speech the elegance indicative of neoclassical ideologies and freedoms. PARAGRAPH ABOUT RHETORICAL QUESTIONS Conclusion to follow PEER EDITING
*Note that this has 3 topics instead of 2 and would be a bit more than what could be produced in a timed essay Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” historically served as a means to patriotic fervor. It compelled listeners to immediately dismiss what previous speakers had articulated about passivity and acquiescence to British domination. Henry’s efficacious usage of emotional diction, classical allusions and rhetorical questions ignited a firestorm of animosity against the colonial rule; the emotion was unquenchable with anything less than liberty for the colonial people. The speech today conveys the spirit of that independence. One can look at it as a piece of context, illuminating the illustrious fruition of Enlightenment and revolutionary thinking of its day. In looking at diction the reader cannot help but share the poignancy of the moment. With allusions such as those that compare loyalist sentiments to deceptive siren calls one knows that their cowardliness is false. The rhetorical questions demand that the listener and reader have a vision of the militaristic and iniquitous presence of the British in America. Through diction, allusions, and rhetorical questions, Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” convinces belief in the spirit of autonomous thought and emotion, characteristic of the Enlightenment. The “Speech to the Virginia Convention” reflects the Rationalist ideal of liberty through its ardent vocabulary. Henry states, “For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery” (81). Henry oversimplifies the colonist’s situation with an either-or fallacy, emotionally putting their decision to fight or not in the imagery of bondage or independence; however, his ongoing trope of comparing their situation to slavery taps into the emotional spirit of freedom that these educated merchants, lawyers and farmers have come to appreciate. His use of the words “my” and “I” reemphasize the argument. He also exclaims, “They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging” (82). The diction “bind and rivet”, “chains” and “forging” connotatively gives a feeling of cold hard metal, the slamming of a metal hammer onto metal pins, the clanking cacophony of the shackles, and the restricting of movement. Henry also uses figurative language to invoke the imagery of an oncoming storm. He describes how they must “avert the storm which is now coming on” (82) and “the next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!” (83). In Henry’s day storms were unpredictable calamities, but his metaphor suggests that he can see this war coming. It will “sweep” over them whether they want it to or not, and further dissonance can be heard in the near future with the “clash of resounding arms.” He finishes the speech of course with the climactic, hyperbolic expression of “give me liberty or give me death!” Again he puts their situation in an extreme binary, which, while logically unsound, has the emotional triumph he is looking for. It “didn’t hurt” either that he faked stabbing himself with a letter opener with this expression, making everyone in the audience momentarily believe that he had taken his own life because he couldn’t be free. In addition to the fervid words Henry also makes use of allusions. The allusions to both Greek mythology and the bible make the speech persuasive by tapping into the Enlightenment spirit of these colonists. PARAGRAPH ON THE ALLUSIONS TO THE SIRENS, CIRCE, THE HEBREWS, AND JESUS BEING BETRAYED WITH A KISS BY JUDAS The allusions thereby create a lot of effect in the rhetoric and the rhetorical questions do too. Henry’s catalogue of interrogative retorts gives his speech the elegance indicative of neoclassical ideologies and freedoms. PARAGRAPH ABOUT RHETORICAL QUESTIONS CONCLUSION – REPHRASE THESIS, TOPICS AND GIVE FINAL POINT Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” historically served as a means to patriotic fervor. It compelled listeners to immediately dismiss what previous speakers had articulated about passivity and acquiescence to British domination. Henry’s efficacious usage of emotional diction, classical allusions and rhetorical questions ignited a firestorm of animosity against the colonial rule; the emotion was unquenchable with anything less than liberty for the colonial people. The speech today conveys the spirit of that independence. One can look at it as a piece of context, illuminating the illustrious fruition of Enlightenment and revolutionary thinking of its day. In looking at diction the reader cannot help but share the poignancy of the moment. With allusions such as those that compare loyalist sentiments to deceptive siren calls one knows that their cowardliness is false. The rhetorical questions demand that the listener and reader have a vision of the militaristic and iniquitous presence of the British in America. Through diction, allusions, and rhetorical questions Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” convinces belief in the spirit of autonomous thought and emotion, characteristic of the Enlightenment. Jasmine Gonzalez Mr. Hiett English 11 period 1 Date Spirit of Liberty Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” historically served as a means to patriotic fervor. It compelled listeners to immediately dismiss what previous speakers had articulated about passivity and acquiescence to British domination. Henry’s efficacious usage of emotional diction, classical allusions and rhetorical questions ignited a firestorm of animosity against the colonial rule; the emotion was unquenchable with anything less than liberty for the colonial people. The speech today conveys the spirit of that independence. One can look at it as a piece of context, illuminating the illustrious fruition of Enlightenment and revolutionary thinking of its day. In looking at diction the reader cannot help but share the poignancy of the moment. With allusions such as those that compare loyalist sentiments to deceptive siren calls one knows that their cowardliness is false. The rhetorical questions demand that the listener and reader have a vision of the militaristic and iniquitous presence of the British in America. Through diction, allusions, and rhetorical questions, Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” convinces belief in the spirit of autonomous thought and emotion, characteristic of the Enlightenment. The “Speech to the Virginia Convention” reflects the Rationalist ideal of liberty through its ardent vocabulary. Henry states, “For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery” (81). Henry oversimplifies the colonist’s situation with an either-or fallacy, emotionally putting their decision to fight or not in the imagery of bondage or independence; however, his ongoing trope of comparing their situation to slavery taps into the emotional spirit of freedom that these educated merchants, lawyers and farmers have come to appreciate. His use of the words “my” and “I” reemphasize the argument. He also exclaims, “They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging” (82). The diction “bind and rivet”, “chains” and “forging” connotatively gives a feeling of cold hard metal, the slamming of a metal hammer onto metal pins, the clanking cacophony of the shackles, and the restricting of movement. Henry also uses figurative language to invoke the imagery of an oncoming storm. He describes how they must “avert the storm which is now coming on” (82) and “the next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!” (83). In Henry’s day storms were unpredictable calamities, but his metaphor suggests that he can see this war coming. It will “sweep” over them whether they want it to or not, and further dissonance can be heard in the near future with the “clash of resounding arms.” He finishes the speech of course with the climactic, hyperbolic expression of “give me liberty or give me death!” Again he puts their situation in an extreme binary, which, while logically unsound, has the emotional triumph he is looking for. It “didn’t hurt” either that he faked stabbing himself with a letter opener with this expression, making everyone in the audience momentarily believe that he had taken his own life because he couldn’t be free. In addition to the fervid words Henry also makes use of allusions. The allusions to both Greek mythology and the bible make the speech persuasive by tapping into the Enlightenment spirit of these colonists. PARAGRAPH ON THE ALLUSIONS TO THE SIRENS, CIRCE, THE HEBREWS, AND JESUS BEING BETRAYED WITH A KISS BY JUDAS The allusions thereby create a lot of effect in the rhetoric and the rhetorical questions do too. Henry’s catalogue of interrogative retorts gives his speech the elegance indicative of neoclassical ideologies and freedoms. PARAGRAPH ABOUT RHETORICAL QUESTIONS CONCLUSION – REPHRASE THESIS, TOPICS AND GIVE FINAL POINT Download 26.81 Kb. Share with your friends:
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