Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henrys Speech - 1086 Words

At a tense meeting in a church in Richmond, Virginia, away from the watchful eyes of Britain, Patrick Henry began to deliver a rousing speech to the Second Convention of Delegates. His passion was tangible to the audience as he called the delegates to action. His speech was memorable to everyone in the room and powerful in convincing the delegates to support the war. Little did he know that this speech would continue to be known for its power and persuasion for generations to come. Throughout Patrick Henrys speech, he emphasized the necessity to act against Britain and support the war, but he did so in a way that was unavoidably persuasive. Henry used emotional appeal, metaphors, and rhetorical questions in order to convince the delegates†¦show more content†¦He tried to empower the audience with the idea of religion, having reassured them that God gave them power and they were not weak. He then attempted to use this empowerment to convince that a correct way to use their Go d-given power was to act against Britain, implying this through the current argument and his stance on the issue. He emphasized this with contradictory words of â€Å"weak† and â€Å"power† to make it more important in the audiences mind. As a whole, the statement is used to give them feelings of pride toward their country and powerful in the eyes of God. As a result, Henry used the ideas of nationalism and religion to emphasize and create a feeling of patriotism. 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 â€Å"war-like preparations† and said they â€Å"cover[ed] our waters and darken[ed] our land.† There he compared Britain sending troops to a â€Å"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, â€Å"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 mayShow MoreRelatedPatrick Henrys Speech Rhetorical Analysis952 Words   |  4 Pagesdocuments, that helped lay a foundation for America, had a ton of courage to speak their mind. The authors: Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson, used rhetorical devices not only to prove to Britain that their colony was worth fighting for, but also to influence colonists to join the fight. First, Patrick Henry, author of â€Å"Speech in the Virginia Convention†, uses allusions and rhetorical questions to convince his audience to join the movement. Henry uses many allusions referring to the bibleRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henrys Speech995 Words   |  4 Pagesshaped by people including, Patrick Henry, George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and many other key players who fought for our independence and left a legacy behind. Henry for instance, was one of the leading figures of the American Revolution. In his most famous speech, he effectively persuades his opponents and supporters of the revolution to unite and fight for independence by using rhetorical devices and appeals. 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Appeals Emotional Context and quote- This quote appears during Henry responds to the opposing argument, giving reasons to refute it. â€Å"There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery! 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,