What Are The Rhetorical Devices In Patrick Henry's Speech

Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” performed before the House of the Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, argues that the colonies should no longer rely on Great Britain and encourages war against them. He worked to convince the men of the Virginia convention to stop trying to befriend the British, and instead, wage war against them. Patrick Henry employs various rhetorical devices such as hypophora, anaphora, and allusions to religion, along with persuasive appeals effectively work to convince the colonists that they should no longer be dependent on and trusting of the threatening practices of the British.

Patrick Henry effectively encourages Americans to fight Britain by using his tone, rhetorical appeals, and rhetorical tools. The tone is frustrated, and so the Purpose is to persuade in order to get America’s freedom. Henry’s exciting and aggravated tone unites and empowers the nation.

Both President George W. Bush and Patrick Henry wrote very similar pieces. Henry delivered a speech known as “Speech to Virginia Convention” to Virginia delegates as to why America should separate from Great Britain. President Bush bush presented a speech “President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat”, that was broadcasted internationally regarding the decision to use military force against Iraq. As we now know today, both speeches effectively persuaded others. The two are similar through the use of multiple rhetorical devices such as pathos, loaded language and ethos.

March 23rd, 1775, Patrick Henry speaks at the Virginia Convention. While everyone else wants to tip toe around the fact of war and wants to keep the peace. Patrick Henry doesn’t and gives it to everyone straight in his words, “- give me liberty or give me death!” I will be giving a rhetorical analysis breaking down each and every piece of his speech.

Therefore, Henry urges the colonists to be open-minded and realize the need to prepare for war. In Patrick Henry’s speech, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”, he passionately utilizes ethos, allusion, and pathos to stress and argue the importance of fighting. By incorporating appeal to ethics in his speech, Henry establishes credibility. By declaring no one “thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism” , he further confirms his loyalty (Henry ).

In the years before the war, England continuously gave hostile and angry responses to their enemy, America. There was no other country in this quarter of the world which the British would have wanted war with or had a problem with. Without Henry’s speech, would Americans have voted to fight against the British, and later won their independence from King George III’s terrible

It was 1775. War was looming over the British Colonies like a thundercloud yet to strike. Yet, somehow, many high-ranking Virginian delegates thought otherwise. However, one skilled politician decided to express his own feelings. Patrick Henry, a well-taught lawyer and orator from Hanover County Virginia, shared his bold feelings with roughly 120 Virginian leaders during the 1775 Virginia Convention in Richmond Virginia. Mr. Henry’s objective was to convince the convention that Britain had already crossed the line in a way that many thought to be incomprehensible to the naked eye. Britain was trying to keep their unclenching grip on the colonies by any means necessar y, such as bringing in large armies of red coats and crowding the waters with

The repetition of the words “we have” emphasizes the serious actions that have been taken by colonists. Henry highlights the colonists’ peaceful attempts to address the unfairness of the British government. Henry’s use of repetition brings unity between the colonists that reassures the colonists and audience that we are in this together. Henry continues his speech by emphasizing his belief that war is unavoidable and colonists should face it with determination rather than fear. He uses figurative language in his speech to make his message more persuasive and inspiring to get his point across.

Writing to an audience that still lacks the desire to oppose the British, Patrick Henry in his "Speech to Virginia House of Burgesses" focuses on the rights of man and defying oppressors. Through figurative language, rhetorical questions, and diction, Henry heightens the necessity to rise up and fight against the British ruling power over the colonist population in Northern America.

In the second paragraph he addresses the situations that faces them as Americans. Henry questions the idea of people during this time and states “Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?” He then states the only way to not lose this freedom that they worked so hard for is to fight “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

Henry claims, "We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne." He creates rhythm and emphasizes his point that his countrymen have to adopt a new method. His audience realizes the reality of their current situation when he lists all the past efforts. When Henry proclaims, "give me liberty, or give me death," he means that colonists only have two choices: freedom or slavery. Henry stirs the souls of his audience.

In Patrick Henry’s speech, he calls to the people of the Virginia Convention through persuasion and a sense of urgency to arm themselves to fight against the English government if they do not yield to America’s commands. He expressed passion and support to fight for independence against the British. Henry used pathos, ethos, and logos effectively to convince supporters as well as opposers to unite and fight for America's right to freedom. Opening, Patrick Henry begins by defending patriots and showing respect to those who oppose his view. In order to gain trust from his audience, Henry acknowledges the opposers who see the same subject but “in different lights.”

Henry motivates the audience to take up arms against the British. Paragraph one states that “No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentleman who have just addressed the house.” The diction of patriotism adds the credibility that Patrick Henry has, and proves that he is a patriotic man who cares deeply for the well-being of America. This helps promote trust within the listeners that Henry means well and will do anything to make America great. In the end of paragraph one, Henry states, “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, though fear of giving offences, I should consider myself guilty of treason towards my country and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.” This illustrates Patrick Henrys credibility because it shows him in the light as a God-fearing Christian, who provokes the trust between the people of that time. Henry solidifies the trust between the listeners and explains that he is looking out for the good of all of

In 1775, Patrick Henry gave America one of the most inspiring speeches that will bring soon bring them together with war on the rise. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” has become the battle-cry to the people in the colonies to take a stand against Britain’s rule and make America their own country. Even after the attempted peace between the two countries, it has been exhausted to the breaking point, and it has come to the time where fighting for their own freedom is the only viable option. Henry’s speech spoke volumes to the American people of the truth, the false presence of peace, and the cry for battle against Britain.

The prominent patriot Patrick Henry once said, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Henry 7) implying that a life without liberty is not a righteous life. Henry’s quote is included in his popular oratory “Speech to the Virginia Convention.” While discussing with the colonists, Henry lists all of the discrepancies the thirteen colonies had with Great Britain, concluding that there is no other option, but to retaliate instantaneously. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” he utilizes amplifying loaded words and coherent parallelism in order to influence the assembly to unify and reciprocate.