Persuasion: a form of discourse (speaking/writing) that uses Reason
(Logos), Authority (Ethos), and Emotional Appeals (Pathos) to
convince another person to act/think in a certain way
Rhetorical Devices: are structures within language that appeal to
readers or listeners and communicate ideas
Types of Devices:
A rhetorical question is a question to which no answer is expected
(meant to make the reader/listener think)
Parallelism is a kind of repetition in which words or phrases in the
same grammatical form connect ideas.
Antithesis or “Either/Or Fallacy” expresses contrasting (juxtaposing)
ideas in parallel grammatical structures.
Repetition is the recurrence of words, phrases, or lines.
Allusions are references to events, figures, or phrases from the
Bible. In this selection, biblical allusions have the rhetorical appeal of
shared beliefs.
Persuasive terminology
• Appeal – in rhetoric, the means of persuasion in an argument. According to
Aristotle, there are three fundamental appeals to convince a person: reason
(logos), ethics/authority (ethos), and emotion (pathos).
• Concession - an acknowledgement of part of your opponent's argument as
valid; also known as giving credit where it is due.
• Refutation - part of an argument in which a speaker or writer contradicts
the opposing points of view or disproves the opposing arguments
• Juxtaposition - two things being seen or placed close together with
contrasting effect.
Literary Terminology
• motif – the recurring or dominant structure of a literary work; the
intentional repetition of a word, phrase, event, or idea as a unifying
theme.
• metonymy – the name of one thing substituted for another thing that
most readers associate with the first.
• oxymoron – contradictory terms
• onomatopoeia – sound word
• metaphor – a subtle comparison in which the author describes a
person or thing using words that are not meant to be taken literally.
• periodic sentence – Parallel subordinate clauses before a main
clause.
Patrick Henry’s
“Speech to the Virginia Convention”
“Give me liberty or give me death!”
Rhetorical &
Persuasive Strategies
St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia
March 23, 1775.
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. But
different men often see the same subject
in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it
will not be thought disrespectful to those
gentlemen if, entertaining as I do,
opinions of a character very opposite to
theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments
freely, and without reserve.
Why begin his speech this way?
*This could be regarded as a concession to
the opposing view that patriotism is
important.
*It could also be a refutation to the opposing
side who may say that only those who are
not patriots would fight the British.
*He is showing respect for those who hold
the opposing view to his.
*“very worthy gentlemen” - Flattery
This is PATHOS, because it appeals to
their emotions.
*“different lights”: the word light symbolizes
truth and spiritual illumination, aligning his
view of the need to fight with God’s purpose
Appeals to authority – Ethos
This is no time for ceremony. The
question before the House is one of
awful moment to this country. For my
own part, I consider it as nothing less
than a question of freedom or slavery;
and in proportion to the magnitude of
the subject ought to be the freedom
of the debate. 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. Should I keep back my
opinions at such a time, through fear
of giving offence, I should consider
myself as guilty of treason towards my
country, and of an act of disloyalty
toward the majesty of heaven, which I
revere above all earthly kings.
*This is the hook or attention grabber.
*Henry is referring to the need to fight for
freedom.
*This is known as an either/or fallacy to create
PATHOS.
*He creates an appeal to authority, or ETHOS,
calling on God’s truth (fighting for freedom). He
aligns God on the side of the colonists fighting for
their freedom.
*Majesty of heaven = God. This is metonymy.
*By juxtaposing (contrasting) God as “majesty of
Heaven,” and “earthly kings” for King George, he
creates an appeal to
authority, or ETHOS, placing God above the king.
God has a greatness of character; the king only
has a position of authority.
[Mr. President, it is natural to man to
indulge in the illusions of hope. 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.[Is this the part of wise
men, engaged in a great and
arduous struggle for liberty? 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? For my part,
whatever anguish of spirit it may
cost, I am willing to know the whole
truth; to know the worst, and to
provide for it.
Allusion to The Odyssey (Mythical Allusion)
*Henry is metaphorically comparing how the British pacifying the
colonists with empty promises is like the false hopes given by
Circe (in Homer’s Odyssey), who charmed Odysseus’ men, then
transformed them into swine after.
– an allusion can be used to form a metaphor or comparison, but it
is always, first and foremost, an allusion.
Allusion to The Bible (Biblical Allusion)
*appeal to authority (ETHOS) through use of allusions
*Rhetorical questions
What part of the argument is it when he addresses the President
again?
*a concession of understanding to the opposition &
*a refutation (argument against the opposition)
He refutes by saying that freedom without fighting is only an
illusion---it cannot be a reality.
*(“anguish of spirit”) appeal to emotions (PATHOS)
*Parallel Structure (to know, to know, to provide)
*appeal to logic (LOGOS)
[
[
[
[I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided;
and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no
way of judging of the future but by the past. 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? Is it that insidious smile with which
our petition has been lately received? Trust it not,
sir; it will prove a snare to your feet.[Suffer not
yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask
yourselves how this gracious reception of our
petition comports with these war-like preparations
which cover our waters and darken our land.[Are
fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and
reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so
unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called
in to win back our love? Let us not deceive
ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and
subjugation; the last arguments to which kings
resort.
*Henry uses a metaphor of the lamp in this Biblical
allusion saying that God’s word (which is truth) is a
“lamp unto thy feet and a light unto thy path.”
*This is an appeal to authority (God/Bible) and an
appeal to ETHOS, because it shows him as a spiritual
person.
*An appeal to LOGOS (logic) when Henry says he can
judge the future by using his knowledge of the past
*“insidious smile” is an oxymoron
*Appeals to PATHOS (British fooling colonists)
*Biblical allusion and metaphor--Judas betraying Jesus
*Juxtaposition/Paradox-contradictory; graciouswarlike
*Henry also employs the rhetorical question to make
the colonists recognize that British are prepping for
war
*Henry also appeals to PATHOS by using words like
“implements (tools) of war and subjugation”
[
[
[
[I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial
array, if its purpose be not to force us to
submission? Can gentlemen assign any other
possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any
enemy, in this quarter of the 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. They are sent over
to bind and rivet upon us those chains which
the British ministry have been so long forging.
And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we
try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for
the last ten years. Have we anything new to
offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held
the subject up in every light of which it is
capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we
resort to entreaty and humble supplication?
What terms shall we find which have not been
already exhausted?
]
[
]
*Henry continues rhetorical questions that are
followed by a declarative sentence answering the
questions.
*Henry uses parallel independent clauses with
“they are meant for us; they can be meant for no
other.
*Henry also uses a metaphor with those who
“bind and rivet…those chains,” creating an appeal
to PATHOS (with slavery). This is not the first
reference to slavery and therefore establishes a
motif of slavery.
*Henry asks the audience rhetorical questions
and boldly gives them the answers:
1) Can we use argument? (tried that for 10 years,
hasn’t worked yet)
2) Is there anything we have not yet said? (nope)
3) Shall we kiss up to the King? (nope)
4) What promises should we try that have not
already been used?
Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive
ourselves. Sir,[we have done everything
that could be done, to avert the storm
which is now coming on. We have
petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have
supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves
before the throne, and have implored its
interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands
of the ministry and Parliament. Our
petitions have been slighted; our
remonstrances have produced additional
violence and insult; our supplications have
been disregarded;]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 longer any room
for hope.
*Henry employs the parallel structure
of “We have...we have” and “our…our”
which indicates that all actions are
equally important, but they become
more emphatic in word choice.
*These also create a rhetorical
structure of cause and effect.
*The word choice is inflammatory, with
words like “additional violence and
insult” and “spurned.”
*These are meant to create an appeal to
PATHOS.
*Henry uses storm as a metaphor for
war.
*the throne, foot of the throne= King
George. This is metonymy.
If we wish to be free, if we mean to
preserve inviolate those
inestimable privileges for which we
have been so long 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 our contest shall
be obtained, we must fight! I
repeat it, sir, we must fight! An
appeal to arms and to the God of
Hosts is all that is left us!
*This is Henry’s Call to Action—in a long
exclamatory periodic sentence, which
state the results of fighting.
*This is also an appeal to PATHOS.
*He is showing the desirable outcomes
before he shows the undesirable way of
attaining these goals, by fighting, which so
many of them wanted to avoid.
*He creates a sense of urgency by using
the exclamation point at the end of the
repetition of “we must fight!”
*This can also be seen as a stated theme.
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to
cope with so formidable an adversary. But
when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next
week, or the next year? Will it be when we are
totally disarmed, and when a British guard
shall be stationed in every house? Shall we
gather strength by irresolution and inaction?
Shall we acquire the means of effectual
resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and
hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until
our enemies shall have bound us hand and
foot?[Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper
use of those means which the God of nature
hath placed in our power.]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. Besides, sir, we shall not fight
our battles alone.
*Henry begins with the loyalist’s opposing
argument that the colonists are weak.
*This portion is also incorporating rhetorical
questions.
*He refutes the argument, appealing to
authority or ETHOS, giving credit to their
power coming only from God - God of Nature
– Deism
*He also creates an appeal to PATHOS
through his use of emotional words to
describe the outcomes of waiting.
*The motif of slavery is extended, creating
PATHOS again.
*Liberty/freedom is one of our natural
rights, imparted upon us by God; therefore,
they believe liberty is holy.
This is ETHOS.
There is a just God who presides
over the destinies of nations; and
who will raise up friends to fight our
battles for us. The battle, sir, is not
to the strong alone; it is to the
vigilant, the active, the brave.
Besides, sir, we have no election. If
we were base enough to desire it, it
is now too late to retire from the
contest.[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, let it come.
*Henry is again using ETHOS uniting freedom
with God’s will and saying that God is raising up
allies.
Parallel structure – the vigilant, the active, the
brave.
*His last point of refutation is that there is no
choice, because retreat would only result in
slavery (motif).
*This is yet another appeal to PATHOS, as
listeners can picture themselves in chains
(motif), controlled by Britain.
*He uses onomatopoeia by saying, “Their
clanking may be heard..” This reinforces the
slavery motif.
*Here he creates an urgent call to arms in his
imperative, exclamatory use of repetition.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the
matter. Gentlemen may cry,
Peace, Peace, but there is no
peace. The war is actually begun!
The next gale that sweeps from
the north will bring to our ears
the clash of resounding arms! Our
brethren are already in the field!
Why stand we here idle? What is
it that gentlemen 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
God! I know not what course
others may take; but as for me,
give me liberty or give me death!]
*The last opposing argument is when he says, “Peace,
Peace..” creates an appeal to PATHOS.
This is also an allusion to the Bible meaning this is also
ETHOS
*He metaphorically describes the advancement of the
British military as a “gale” which will “sweep the North.”
Through the comparison, he continues the storm
metaphor used earlier and includes the onomatopoeia
“clash.”
*The rhetorical question Henry uses reinforces their
need to take action, ending with the concept of
slavery motif
*In the final line, Henry uses antithesis (either/or
fallacy) to show that liberty is equally as valuable and
desirable as death (under British rule) is destructive and
undesirable.
*This final portion is all an appeal to PATHOS