Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech At The Second Virginia Convention By Patrick Henry

    In Henry’s speech, he first sets the stage by using a proud tone while explaining the importance of war with Britain. His illustrious delivery of the speech itself is very moving, as the efforts to convince America to settle on the side of war. He goes on to convey, “Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of  those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power” (Henry 38). His tone of taking charge and only accepting the best from his country supports the claim that Henry is indeed the proud man he is. Henry also in his speech uses an enlightening tone to inspire his crowd he uses terms to explain how he will settle for only the best for the country. He uses phrases such as, “The war is inevitable-and let it come!” (38). This phrase brings up the emotion of the crowd as they believe in war, and Henry himself is full of power as he enforces that war must go on. He uses such enthusiasm and inspiration to uplift himself and the crowd to ensure that war is necessary. Overall, Henry;s tone of the proudness and

Henry also used many metaphors to give a clear picture to the audience in order to dramatize the current conflict. Toward the beginning of the body of his speech, he called Britain sending troops in response the colonists’ rebellious activities as “war-like preparations” and said they “cover[ed] our waters and darken[ed] our land.” There he compared Britain sending troops to a “cover” or a shadow, making them seem like a heavy burden or threat. This comparison painted them in an ominous and untrustworthy light without Henry directly declaring that the British soldiers were untrustworthy. Later in the speech, Henry compared submission to the to slavery, saying, “It is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission in slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may

In his speech during the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry used a dynamic tone to express his ideas. He utilized the rhetorical technique of fallacy to persuade his audience into thinking that America’s independence was necessary for the good of the nation and its people. Henry takes advantage of fallacies such as the either or fallacy, fallacy of complex questions, appeal of consequence, and appeal to emotion to implement his ideas into the audience.

In addition to rhetorical questioning, Henry also uses allusion to assert his opinions. For example, while speaking of how man naturally believes in hope, he references Homer’s Odyssey by saying, “We are apt to listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts”

Immediately as the speech begins, Henry’s tone manifests itself and remains unwavering. Henry begins, “It is natural for a man to indulge in the illustration of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth” (1). This sheds insight on his message and portrays him as a well versed individual. He then strengthens his tone when he says

Henry is appealing to the patriotism and emotions of his audience by mentioning things such as “a question of freedom or slavery”, “the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country”, and “the very worth gentlemen who have just addressed the House”.

Henry knew his audience inside and out, which helped him persuade them effectively. In his logical appeals, Henry uses facts, statistics, examples, past history and incidents to persuade the audience. On the other hand, in Henry’s emotional appeals, he uses diction, imagery, figurative language, allusions to literature, use of religion and stories that arouse emotions to persuade the audience. These appeals are meant to stir the audience’s emotions. All of these factors played a big role in persuading the audience at the Virginia Convention. As a young man, Patrick Henry failed at attempts at storekeeping and farming before discovering before discovering his true calling: the law. Starting as a 29 year old lawyer, Henry gradually developed as a politician and as a result, Patrick Henry is now recognized as one of the most persuasive orators in American Colonial

When he speaks to the colonists he says, “listen to the song of the siren till she transforms us into beasts”. Patrick Henry used this allusion referring to the colonists as the ones who were being deceived by the British and would eventually lose their battle against them. In addition to the delusion of the colonists, he proclaimed that the colonists were in complete denial of the extent of the mistreatment and inequality that was being embedded on them as he said, “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?”. Patrick Henry used allusions to compare the horrid circumstances the colonists were under to past relatable

First, Patrick Henry, author of “Speech in the Virginia Convention”, uses allusions and rhetorical questions to convince his

Patrick Henry displays coherent parallelism in order to highlight the hardships the colonies had to endure while fusing balance and technique in doing so. Parallelism, or parallel structure, is a literary method defined as the

One language device Henry applies to his speech was developing an ethical and credible profile of himself. He this by associating himself with a divine and righteous deity. Henry says that, “...I should consider myself as guilty… of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings” (36). He acknowledges and respects God as an authority figure when mentioning God being above all. All other kings (including King George of England) are below God. This creates an ethical and credible characterization of Henry in the eyes of the audience. Since many colonists were religious, they almost certainly would pay more attention to a man who respects God. Talking about God also gives a reason to rebel. Henry states that the colonists will not fight alone and that, “There is a just God… who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us” (38). This statement implies that Henry believes God is on the side of the colonists if they fight. Asserting that God will help the colonists fight is an appeal to the ethics of the audience because Henry connects fighting to the will of God. With a Christian audience, connecting himself to Christian ideals promotes Henry’s ethical standing.

While attempting to change the minds of members of the Virginia House of Burgesses, to whom he is speaking, Patrick Henry of various unsuccessful ways of protesting the oppressive British rule. Henry reveals coherently what he feels the next steps should be in regards to the British. Henry dexterously uses his diction to make his stance more convincing and more

In the Speech to the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry, the author uses multiple literary devices and a unifying tone to support his claim for the Americans to go against British oppression and to

Context and quote- Henry makes an allusion to Homer’s Odyssey during his speech in the Virginia Convention. “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” (81).

As he goes on in his speech, he says that to not be free, would be worse than death. Therefore, according to Patrick Henry’s logical argument, and substitution, they must revolt, or face a condition worse than death.