Convention
READING 6 Analyze how
rhetorical techniques in
Speech by Patrick Henry
historically important
speeches influence the reader, '
evoke emotions, and create
meaning. 7 Analyze the meaning
of biblical allusions in words,
phrases, passages,and literary
works.
In the spring of 1775, Patrick Henry, a Virginian lawyer, had had enough of
cooperating with the British. He felt it was time for armed resistance, so he
gave a speech to members of the Virginia Convention. The speech tiirned
out to be a decisive moment not only in his own life, but also in the life of
the United States.
With a partner, think of e ample from s orts, politics, or everyday
life when a dec sive act on was eeded. C oose o e exa ple and explain
why it was the right action at the ght time. Write your notes in the
notebook at left.
Literary Analysis: Rhetorical Devices
Rhetorical devices are structures within language that appeal to readers
or listeners and communicate ideas. The following chart lists different
rhetorical devices that Patrick Henry used in his speech.
j K eTonr i! i A question to which n an wer is expected ( Is it hot in
i here, or what? )
1 Repeating words, phrases, or lines for emphasis (Let it
i I come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.)
A in of re etition in which wo d r ph ses in the m
j j grammatical form connect ideas (Is life so dear, or peace so
1 I sweet...)
x ressi g con tr tin ide s in pa ll l r mmatical
stru tu es (Give me liber y, or giv m d a h!)
References to events, figures, or phrase from th Bible.
As you read the speech, be on the lookout for the rhetorical devices Patrick
Henry used to per uade hi audience.
86 INTERACTIVE R ADER / UNIT 1: EARLY AMERICAN WRITING
Monitot rout Compiehen
SETA PURPOSE
FOR READING
Read Speech in the
Virginia Convention
to find out how Patrick
Speech in the '¦ . . ¦ ¦¦ ¦'
Virginia onvention
Henry persuaded Virginian
patriots to support war
with Great Britain.
S eedi by ' ¦
P/KT K P s: PPP H d Ids d
BACKGROUND Known as "the O ator
of Liberty, Patrick Henry made a name
for himself with hK spenrhes supporting
America demof m< y. I k' was one of the
earliest o ponents of British ule in American
colonies. In 1775, Ame ican colonists were
divided about their relationship to Great
Britain. Some were still hoping to work out
disagreements and remain British subject .
Others, like Henry, believed that the only
choice left was to go to war with Britain. In
this speech to his fellow Virginian patriots,
Henry makes a stirring plea for his cause.
Maiiii 23 T#75
'© Rl
Different men often see the
same subjects in different lights
in lines 3-4 is an example of
anikli. a cxpius: ion of
contrasting but parallel ide.., .
What does this d iithesi
emphasize?
Mr. President:1 No man thi ks more highly than I do of the
patriotism, a well as bilities, of t e very vorthy gen leingif who
have just addresse t e House. But different men often see t e
same subject in differe t lights; and, t erefore, I hope that it will
not be thought disrespectful to thos entlemenj'lf, entertainin
as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak
forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. II T is is no time
for cer mon . The question before the House is one of awful
moment2 to this country. For my own part I consider it a nothin
10 less than a question of/f eeclom or slaver : find in roportion
to the magnitude of tne subject ought to be the freedom of t e
1. Mr. President: the president of the Virginia Convention, Peyton Randolph.
2. of awful moment: of very grave importance.
88 INTERACTIVE READER / UNIT 1: EARLY AMERICAN WRITING
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1 t .
i Off0'
7
Monito Your Comprehension
S<«
© PERSUASIVE SPEEC
debate. It is only in mis way that we can hope to arrive at truth,
and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to)God and our /
rShould I keep back my opinions at such a time, through
"fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason
towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the
Reread lines 18-26. Underline
language that Henry uses to
build a s nse of shared beliefs
with his audience. What
one does he establish in this
paragraph? Expla
majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions
of hope. e are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and
20 listen to the son of that menT h s
us into be;
Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous
stmgglefor liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of
11 lo e who,
vi g ye , e noi, ;m li;ivim> ear , it ai oi
things wlii
b so
arly ro rmi ibrii . j, ,t.-! ...
!
pai r, wharevci anguish of s irit it may cost, i am illing io know,<j
the hole 11 u i-ir o know the wor t and to provide for it. w
Tlmve but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that fe
the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future
but by the past. And j dgina by the a t, I wish io know what
30 there has been in the con uct of ihe British inistry lor the l st
ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen' have been
pleased to solace themselves and the House? Is it that
smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it
not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not ourselves to
I be betrayed with a kiss. 0 '
Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition
1 comports6 with these warlike preparations
prepar tions which cover our waters
ana darken our land. Are f eets and rmies necess ry to a work of,,
/
love nd reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to
<10 be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?
Underline the sentences in
lines 29-35 in which Henry
suggests that the British will
betray the colonists. What type
of rhetorical device does he
use here? (Use footnote 5 to
help you.)
Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These re the implements of war
3. the illu ions of ho e ... into beasts: In the Odyssey of Homer, the goddess .
Circe lures men to her island and then magically transforms them into
pigs. Henry suggests that the illusions of hope may transform people in
similar way.
4. having eyes... hear not: an allusion to Ezekiel 12:2 in the Bible, which speaks
of who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not.
5. betrayed with a kiss: an allusion to Luke 22:47-48 in the Bible, wherein Judas
betrayed Jesus to the Roman soldiers by kissing him and thus identifying him.
6. comports: agrees or goes along with.
SPEECH IN THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION 89
and subjugation7 the last ar uments to which kings resort. I ask
gentFemeiJ, sir, what means this martial, array, if its purpose be not
to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign'any other possible
motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the
it
/ world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir,
\ she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other.
hey are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the
What have the British been
rloirifj? Wh rone lu ion does
British ministry have been so long forging. PfCTM lfS
I l my draw from the ar.li nsf
And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument?
Sir, we h ve been fr ing that for the last fen ears. Have we
anything new to offer on the ubject? Nothing. e have held the
subject up in every li ht of which it is capable; but if: has bee
ll in vain. Shall we resort to ent e ty an humble suppl cation?
hat terms shall we find which have not been alre dy exhausted?
Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the
storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have
remonstrated8; we h ve su lic ted; we have prostrate our elve
60 before the throne, and have implored its interposition9 to arrest
the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our
petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced
a itional violence and insult; our supplication have been
isregarde ; and we have' been spurned, with contempt, from'the
foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge
the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no lon er any
room for ho e.
If we wish to be|fre - if we mean to preserve
those ine tim ble privileges for which we have been so long
io 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
eread h e ()« /',. Uru eriiiK
words and phras s that I l nry
uses to make the col nists cause
sound noble and important.
our contest shall be obtain I,
* L-i*:' ! repe t it, sir, we
must fi ht! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that
is left us! ©
7. subjugation: control by conquering.
8. remonstrated: to object; to protest strongly.
9. we have prostrated ... interposition: We have thrown ourselves at the feet
of the king and have begged for intervention.
90
INTERACTIVE READER / UNIT 1: EARLY AMERICAN WRITING
w
They tell us, sir, that we are weak unable to cope.with so
formidable an adversary.
But
when ~
shall we
be stronger? Will it
*
i i
«S ... ,.J
be the next week, or the next year? ill it be when we are totally
disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every
.so house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall
we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on j
/
our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our
suif In le) adv. in a
. manner t upward
Ci Circle a context clue to
enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?
t e meaning of Mipi y in
Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means (
J(n&
nes 81-83.
which the God of nature h th placed in our power. Three y ** .
millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in s h
a co ntr as th t which we possess, are >
wi eli our e emy can se d
by any force
. y,
snsiPisk I
ainst n idesi rs, sir, we shall not
li ht our battles alone. There is a jnsi God who presides over
90 the destinies of nations, and who will r ise up friends to fight
our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone;10 it
is to the
6 '/ / h d
$ /f ,
1 , the active, the brave. Tiesi es, sir, we have no
election.11 If we were ba e rnouph to esire it, it is now too l te
to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submissio
10. battle... strong alone: an allusion to Ecclesiastes 9:11 in the Bible, the race is
not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.
IP election: choice.
SPEECH IN THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION
91
'*1
w.
momtor rour Lomp enension
i
(Ifc/1
and sldwsr ! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard
on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I
repeat it, sir, let it come!
,1 i.--
/o '• - ; v
• lessen the seriousness of,
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. j ndenaen nay cry,
Peace! peace! but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!
.(i,' -inily uv oio/ .i.r-jy n-ii ir-'
100 The next gale that sweeps from the north12 will bring to our ears
(ci isos
the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the
ield! Why stand we here idle? hat is it that entlemen wish?
What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be
purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty
Uiiflerihie (om u!
in li es ()P,~ioG.
Go ! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give
me liberty, or give me death! ©
12. the next gale... north: Some colonists in Massachusetts had already shown
open resistance to the British and were on the brink of war.
92 INTERACTIVE EADER / U IT 1: EARLY AMERICAN WRITING
Literary Anal sis: Rhetorical Devices
Patrick Henry used a variety of rhetorical devices to make his argument
compelling to listeners. Read thei passages below. Then complete the chart by
listing the types of rhetorical devices in those passages, and the effect they have.
READINGS Analyze how
rhetorical techniques in
historically important
speeches influence the reader,
Rhetorical De ice and Effe
Stateme
evoke emotions, and create
meaning. 7 Analyze the meaning
of biblical allusions in words,
phrases, passages, and literary
works. IDA E aluate how the
author's purpose and stated or
per eived audience affect the
j Device:
For my own pa t, I consider it
nothing less than a question
| of freedom or slavery,..
II Effect:
| (lines 9-10)
|
tone of persuasive texts.
I
|
jS
:
j Suffer not yourselves to he
I betrayed by a kiss, (lines 34 35,
• footnote 5)
i
Device;
Effect
ij •
j We hav tition ; w
have demonstrated; we have
|1 Device;
1
Effect:
supplicated...
(lines 58-59)
i
Why stand w h e idl ? What,
Device
is it that gentlemen wish?
(line 102)
1
_..
l
Effect:
J
_.
Review the notes you took while reading and those in the chart above. Which
devices occur most frequently in Henry s speech? Do these devices appeal
more to the emotions or to logic? Explain.
SPEECH IN THE VIRGI IA CONV NTION
93
Reading Strategy: Reading a Persuasive Speech
READING 10A Evaluate how the
author's purpose and stated or
perceived audience affect the
tone of persuasive texts.
RC-11(A) Reflect on understanding
Review the information you collected about Patrick Henry s Speech in the
Virginia Convention as you read. Then use the chart below to summarize the
approach Henry used in his speech.
Who is his audience?
/. ( &Mb&rs of the. Virginia Conventi n
to monitor comprehension.
Z.
| What tone does he use to appeal to
) his audience?
|
! How (Joe he chieve his purpose?
Patrick Henry s intense frustration with the state of affairs compelled him to
act. What circumstances in your life have triggered you to make a decision or
take action?
Vocabula Practice
Decide whether these statements using the vocabulary words are true or
false. Write TorFon the line.
1. An invincible chess champion would be tough to beat.
2. A statue that is lying is lying face down.
3. A t guard may take naps while on duty.
4. If circumstances extenuate a thoughtless action, they partially
excuse it.
5. An ins dious disease is one that is easy to treat.
6. A safe that can t be broken into may be described as inviolate.
7. A martial gathering would include people in uniform.
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