Patrick Henry Speech Analysis – Flashcards
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Date Given
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1775
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Audience
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Virginia Convention
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Overall position
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He is calling on patriots of Virginia to arm themselves in order to be prepared to fight the British if they do not yeild to some of their demands.
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Paragraph 1: 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 the abilities of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the same subject in different lights."
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Henry is defending his position as a patriot just as those who hold the opposing view call themselves patriots. This could be regarded as a concession to the opposing view that patriotism is important, but also a refutation to the opposing side who may say that only those who are not patriots would fight the British. He is also showing respect for those who hold opposing views. He introduces his opposing view with the rhetorical shift, "But. . .
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Ethos
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credibility; ethical appeal
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Pathos
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Ethical appeal
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Logos
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logical appeal
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In paragraph 1, Henry says that "different men often see the same subject in different lights." What does the word "light" mean here? Why do you think he uses it?
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He literally means that men see the same subject in different ways, but he uses the word "light" to introduce the idea that light represents truth and spiritual illumination, ideas which he continues to develop in the speech. In doing this, he is aligning his view of the need to fight with God's purpose.
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In paragraph 1, Henry states his view in saying that, "I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery." What does he mean by "it" and what fallacy in logic does he use here to be persuasive? What appeal does he create?
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By "it," he is referring to the need to fight for their freedom. This is an either/or fallacy, and he uses it to create an appeal to pathos because he is trying to convince them that there is only one alternative to fighting and that is slavery or British rule. The idea of slavery would create fear and anger in the minds of the colonists.
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In paragraph 1, What appeal does he create when he says, "It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country"? What does truth mean to Henry?
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He creates an appeal to authority (ethos)(appeal to the authority of God and appeal to his own ethos since this position shows him as a Christian) and what he is saying is that fighting for freedom is God's truth and that it is a responsibility to both God and country. In saying this, he again aligns God on the side of the colonists in fighting for their freedom.
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In paragraph 1, What is the appeal created by juxtaposing God as the Majesty of Heaven with earthly kings? What is the effect of his using the word Majesty for God and king for King George III?
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He creates an appeal to authority (ethos) in placing God above King George III. He shows the parallel by calling God the Majesty of Heaven just as King George III is the King of England. Thus, he is calling them both kings but then he raises God over an earthly king. The word "Majesty" connotes splendor of the quality of one's character whereas "king" denotes the position of authority. So, in using the different words, he is implying that God has a greatness of character whereas King George III only has the position of authority.
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In paragraph 2, what part of the argument is it when he says, "Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope."
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He begins paragraph 2 with a concession to the opposition and a refutation. His concession is that it is natural that man hopes for freedom without fighting. His refutation comes with the use of the word "illusions." He is refuting by saying that freedom without fighting is only an illusion—it cannot be a reality.
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In paragraph 2, What rhetorical device is he using when he says, "listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts"? Explain it and discuss what appeal it creates.
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Through a mythical allusion, he is metaphorically comparing how the British are saying things to the colonists which are promising false hopes to how Circe in Homer's Odyssey transformed men into swine after charming them with her singing. This creates an appeal to pathos in that just as the end result for those whom Circe tricked was dehumanization, so also the colonists will be dehumanized because they will not be free.
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In paragraph 2, Henry says, "Are we disposed to be of the number of those who having eyes see not, and having ears hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation." What rhetorical device is he using? Explain its persuasive effect and what appeal it creates.
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Henry is using a Biblical allusion here to create an appeal to authority (ethos) and an appeal to pathos. This comes from Ezekiel 12:2 which says that those who can't see and can't hear the truth about God will lose their spiritual salvation. Here, he is comparing the colonists who can't see or hear the truth about what the British are doing to those in the Bible who lost their spiritual salvation because they couldn't hear or see. Here, though, he changes spiritual salvation to temporal salvation which means that the colonists will not be free which he equates with death. Again he is comparing God's truth to the need to fight for freedom.
