The students version, an interactive PDF, contains all of the aboveexceptthe responses to the close reading questions and the follow-up assignment. ", -Martin Luther King, Jr. in a commencement address at Oberlin College in June 1965, "I know not what course others may take: but as for me,give me liberty or give me death. Henry again makes a Biblical allusion in sentence 18, Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Christ was betrayed by his disciple Judas through the kiss of brotherhood, which led to Christs arrest and crucifixion (Luke 22:47). (54) Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. When Henry uses solace, he says "And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British Ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the house." What image does Henry use to convey that the battle has already begun? Henry shifts tone in the beginning of this paragraph to irony, the use of language that conveys the opposite of the intended meaning. Pronounced ann-TITH-uh-sis, the word comes from the Greek for "set against." Give an example in this paragraph of an attempt to engage the audience and an example of an attempt to prepare the audience. In sentence 1 Henry acknowledges the patriotism of the members of the House who have just spoken. Henry builds to a syllogistic argument, an appeal to logic, at the end of this paragraph. So, the use of contrasting elements helps the quote work. In paragraph 4 Henry uses procatalepsis, an argumentative strategy that anticipates an objection and then answers it. (34) Nothing. In sentence 58, what does Henry mean by "we have no election"? He prepares his audience by expresses the hope that they will show him the same respect when he states in sentence 2, "I hope it will not be thought disrespectful" Even though he will be speaking contrary to what has been previously presented, he reminds his audience that they are all colleagues by referring to the entire group, as in sentence 6, "we can hope to arrive at the truth.". What is his purpose in first asking if they are "disposed to see not, and hear not" and then stating, "I am willing to know the whole truth: to know the worst, and to provide for it"? -To inspire: "Give me liberty or give me death" (sentence 75). Antithesis in Patrick Henry's speech to the Virginia Convention can be found in its most famous line, Give me liberty, or give me death! This is an example of antithesis because it contrasts two completely opposite conditions, liberty and death. What purpose does Henry establish, and to what is he appealing in order to emphasize this purpose? 0000003083 00000 n In sentence 75, probably the most famous sentence from this speech, Henry uses antithesis to set up a clear contrast. For one thing, poets tend to reveal personal parts of themselves, the parts that are usually hidden in everyday interactions yet are always lurking beneath the surface. Henry continues to use "gentlemen" in this paragraph. According to Henry, which will his argument contain and which will it NOT contain? Henry begins this paragraph with another Biblical allusion, one lamp by which my feet are guided (Psalms 119:105). Henry uses this term again to show and explain how the people cannot dream or imagine hope being so easy to obtain. His last question,"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" He again sets up a choice for his audience. Henry's purpose in using this image in paragraph 3 is to explain that the Colonies failed when they attempted to fight (fight meaning argue) the British that are trying to enslave them. Why does he make this connection? How does Henry shift from a ironic tone back to his urgent argument? This speech was recreated in 1817 by William Wirt of Maryland, who published the first biography of Patrick Henry. (59) If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. Or to take arms against a sea of trouble. "Where is antithesis in Patrick Henry's speech to the Virginia Convention?" For each of your examples explain how they are intended to arouse Henrys audience. 4). This is the famous line from Shakespeares Hamlet. The use of rhetorical analysis is very useful to make works appealing and contribute effectively to the author's purpose. Wirt drew upon materials collected beginning in 1808, including interviews with those who knew Henry and those who were present when the speech was delivered. Henry finishes this paragraph with an appeal to logic in the form of an "if then" statement. Even though I am taking just a small step here on the moon, the mere fact that I am on the moon is an indication of how far we have come as a species. This just highlights the contrasting nature of the ideas contained in these sentences. In an environment of digital media and world-wide instant communication, students may wonder how Henrys words were preserved. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Alexander Drive, P.O. It will not include hope, because Henry explains that in order to move forward and obtain liberty, they must be fully aware of the issues at hand. Cite an example from the text of each of these four purposes. 9.;;0pV#i?mAYw3Y6L~Xe~XPgv31m5Q5^. 3. Patrick Henry, former governor of Virginia, bravely spoke on the 23rd of March, 1775, at St. John's Church, introducing his strategies to end the American Revolution in victory. As a rhetorical device, antithesis is defined very specifically as the use of: 1) two opposing ideas 2) presented in parallel structure 3) in the same sentence The effect is to heighten the contrastand in many cases, vividly drive the speaker's point home. In this second paragraph of the exordium, Henry works to explain the importance and timeliness of his argument by setting up a contrast between illusions and truth in sentences 8 and 12. Speech is silver but silence is gold. 1. Do you know Patrick Henry's famous line that owes its zip to antithesis? In his powerful, dramatic speech to the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry wants to instill a sense of urgency in his listeners. In sentence 58, what does Henry mean by we have no election? The text of this speech is well known; less well known is the fact that there was no actual transcript created of Henrys speech after all, these discussions smacked of treason, and keeping a written record would have been dangerous. The provenance of the speech notwithstanding, Henrys words provide a rich source to study rhetorical strategies and classical argument, and that study is the focus of this lesson. He is emphasizing the life changing issue. Why does he use the term "ceremony"? But Henry felt that delay would be a major mistake. Parallelism like: Is life so dear or peace so sweet. What is the purpose of returning to this metaphor yet again? What is Henry's response to those who say the colonists are too weak to fight the British? Frederick Douglass, photographed around the time he gave his speech on July 5, 1852. 0000001904 00000 n As a practiced lawyer and orator, Henry understood the power of rhetoric to appeal to others and employed all three rhetorical appeals in . In the Text Analysis section, Tier 2 vocabulary words are defined in pop-ups, and Tier 3 words are explained in brackets. The refutatio presents and refutes counter arguments. He wants to be seen as respectful in order to get his message across more clearly. (an-TIH-theh-sis): Figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure; a contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences. %PDF-1.4 % What are examples of anaphora in the "Speech to the Virginia Convention"? Patrick Henry was born May 29, 1736, he lived his life defending people who couldn't defend themselves and became a attorney. To be or not to be, that is the question. 12. Saint Johns Church, Richmond, Virginia, where Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. Peter F. Rothermel, Patrick Henrys Treason speech before the House of Burgesses, 1851. First of all, antithesis uses more than a single word. In sentence 5, when Henry states, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery, he commits a logical fallacy. For each of your examples explain how they are intended to arouse Henry's audience. He reminds his audience that he, like them, is a believer and is trustworthy. 0000004268 00000 n Each month, our Buckley School resident students of classical rhetoric explain a rhetorical device that can improve your public speaking. Antithesis means to put two ideas together in order to contrast them, pointing out their differences. Or to take arms against a sea of trouble. The obvious, and unspoken, answer is liberty, of course. Those who can, do; those who can't do, teach. This stark choice is designed to make Henry's audience realize just what is at stake. He chooses verbs that are increasingly dramatic to remind his audience that the Colonies have tried everything without result. (25) Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? What allusion does Henry use in sentence 9 when he says "listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts?" His purpose of including it is that people will understand what the phrase is. Henry does this in sentences 11 and 12. (6) 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. On the one hand, these are supposedly decaying corpses that belong six feet under. In sentences 70 through 73 Henry asks a series of questions, "Why stand we here idle? The main function of antithesis in a speech is to give emphasis to an idea by placing it next to a contrasting idea. Moreover, this contrast is usually aided by parallelism, or parallel structures, which draws the attention of the listener and engages them. Britain had severely restricted Massachusetts through the Intolerable Acts; towns were voting to boycott British goods, and British soldiers were becoming a common sight in the American Colonies. He was married twice, the first was in 1754 to Sarah Shelton, who later passed away in 1775 to what was believed to be postpartum psychosis. Henry's use of antithesis is particularly skillful, as it simplifies the matter at hand to such an extent that subtlety and nuance are no longer options. There is a sense of intimacy, an opportunity to dive into another persons soul and watch the gears of their mind twist and turn. On March 23, 1775, he asked the Virginia Convention to take a defensive stance immediately against Great Britain by raising an armed company in every Virginia county an action considered by many to be open treason. How does he convey a ironic tone? People were interested in and aimed for liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity . 0 He uses ironic rhetorical questions questions that convey the opposite of what he attempts to argue. Why does Henry begin the second sentence with "but"? (32) Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Henry displays an idea that the American people should fight back against the British. Asyndeton is a series of phrases or words with conjunctions deleted. What is the purpose of returning to this metaphor yet again? Henry seeks to engage his audience by showing his respect for them. 34. The purpose expresses that the battle is not only for the strong people who just want to fight, but that it is for the vigilant, active and brave people who want to fight the battle for a reason. Frederick Douglasss powerful speech, "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro," is built on juxtaposition. Freedom Or Slavery: Analysis Of Patrick Henry's Speech In The Virginia Convention . Henry does this in sentences 11 and 12. The parenthesis is after these things, and Henry is referring to the Colonies attempts at reconciliation. Henry states that he is willing to suffer a traitor's death rather than be denied liberty. Find an example of asyndeton in this paragraph. He contrasts liberty and death, concluding that without liberty death is preferable. The purpose of the debate, of which this speech is a part, is to "arrive at truth" and fulfill the "great responsibility which we hold to God and our country" (sentence 6). Henry contrasts liberty and death, expressing that there is no life without liberty. 22. Antithesis comes from the Greek antithenai, which means to oppose. What does he contrast? For an electronic version of Wirts book, visit this link: Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry. What purpose does Henry establish, and to what is he appealing in order to emphasize this purpose? "Give me liberty or give me death," is a quote from Patrick Henry's famous speech delivered March 23, 1775 to the members of the Virginia Congress. HdSMo0W(*d0X;dm7v)I4E=>]\",w:CM_U[:teQj5y^^Nl5sIF)RVbZ)^9* Z\ {y%MA.z1rf HlBRV@O]TnIfa_L6J" How does Henry shift from a ironic tone back to his urgent argument? So, how is this different from antithesis? You can clearly see that there are two opposing ideas here being presented in conjunction. Hypophora is a special type of rhetorical question whereby a question is asked and then answered by the speaker (as opposed to a typical rhetorical question, which is either not answered or has a yes/no answer). (64) I repeat it, sir, let it come. The Convention members consider themselves to be men of integrity and ethics, as Henry acknowledged in sentence 1. New York: Published by Currier & Ives, c1876. His recommendations were accepted by the Convention. When a poet sings their verses, there is always a strange sense that they are talking to you, the listener. What does solace mean? He means that the question under discussion is extremely important with potentially life-changing consequences. This addresses one of the objections made by southern colonies to taking up arms against the British that the trouble was centered in Massachusetts, not Virginia. Copyright 20102022 National Humanities Center. 0000000016 00000 n The speech was so inspiring that it ignited a massive flame of patriotism. It is taken from a soliloquy by the main character as he contemplates his next move. 36 0 obj<>stream -To amplify: "the war is actually begun" (sentence 67) Summarizing why a speaker (or writer) might choose to use antithesis, LitCharts writes it can: Well add that antithesis makes a point memorableand quotableas weve seen recently with the line "When they go low, we go high" and in the not-so-distant past with Neil Armstrongs "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.". In this second paragraph of the exordium, Henry works to explain the importance and timeliness of his argument by setting up a contrast between illusions and truth in sentences 8 and 12. What is the effect? Such an argument is called an "ethical appeal." While there had been unrest and resistance in Massachusetts with scattered acts of support from other areas, no organized movement toward revolution existed across the Colonies. In order for others to accept a different idea, they must first believe they are being respected. Consider sentence 42, "In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation." The sentenia in the Peroratio uses the religion of the majority of the audience to encourage them to fight for peace and freedom. "We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated; [we] have implored" He uses the parallel structure to indicate the process by which the Colonies have taken multiple steps to resolve differences. (67) The war is actually begun! Resenting this British interference with local government, the members of the House of Burgesses regrouped as a state convention. But, another reason is that poetry has a bevy of tools in its arsenal. I have provided an example for each type of antithesis from Henry's speech. The false dichotomy (either-or) fallacy gives only two options with no choices in between, and Henry uses this intentionally. Find at least one example of hypophora in this paragraph and explain its contribution to Henry's argument. Henry will contain the truth in his argument regardless of the cost of realizing the illusion of hope and will try to use the truth to benefit their cause. 0000004997 00000 n Give an example in this paragraph of an attempt to engage the audience and an example of an attempt to prepare the audience. Its me, Marcel. He believes the British represent Judas and that while they will appear brotherly to the Colonies they will betray, leading to Colonial downfall. A hypophora is useful to present to an audience issues they may not have considered in depth. Instead of relying on the British to protect their liberties, Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. 4. He recognizes and compliments the patriotism and abilities of the other members of the Convention in his first sentence (note that Henry continues to address the body as the House). 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 abilities of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. It's not a show, friends; it's show business. Identify the parenthesis and Henry's purpose for including it. The purpose of the debate, of which this speech is a part, is to arrive at truth and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country (sentence 6).
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examples of antithesis in patrick henry's speech