Preview

A Rhetorical Analysis Essay On Patrick Henry

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
175 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
A Rhetorical Analysis Essay On Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry starts off his argument beautifully. He geniusly changes the mindset of the audience by complementing them, “...very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house...” He then clarifies that he is not being disrespectful, even if his opinion is almost completely opposite to theirs. This is an excellent way to start, as it lowers tensions in the room and opens up the minds of the house to listen. It also serves as his first defense.

Patrick then goes on to discuss the illusions of hope and truthfulness. He mentions that it is human nature to ignore the truth and to blindly listen to false hope and lies. Patrick addresses this and states that he is “...willing to know the whole truth: to know the worst and to provide for

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention”(1775) Patrick Henry convinced colonist to fight against Britain; he constructed extensive use of three main rhetorical devices in his speech to persuade colonist to go to war and fight for what they truly desire. Presenting his speech in House of Burgesses, Henry sincerely respected his audience to gain their respect and attention to comprehend his urgency.…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Patrick Henry gave a speech in 1775 to the Virginia Convention that convinced them to take action and fight back against Great Britain for their freedom because their methods of hope and petition failed to work. First, he used concession to opposition in the beginning of his speech to acknowledge the arguments and thoughts of the preceding speakers so that he could speak freely while he suggested treason. Secondly, he pointed out how despite the obvious facts of the start of a war, the convention continued to hope even without response from Britain. Henry stated, “Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land" (Henry). In addition, Henry contradicted…

    • 285 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through an extremely impassioned tone and expressive diction, Patrick Henry is more than successful in persuading his audience that war is the only option left in gaining independence. In Henry’s entire speech to the Virginia Convention, he remains strong, yet sensitive in how he interacts with his audience. He establishes himself as a Patriot through ethos and his persuasion to go to war only becomes stronger as his speech continues.…

    • 376 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth and fulfill the great responsibility” (Henry 102). In 1775 people feared that America would never gain its independence from Britain and Patrick Henry changed that. Patrick Henry wanted to convince the congress to raise a militia to fight back the British. To do so Patrick Henry used Pathos in his speech “To the Virginia Convention” and was able to persuade his audience into raising a militia.…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As the basic human right, we are all enjoying the inherent freedom since we were born. However, 200 years ago, a group of people was fighting for their freedom perseveringly. On 23rd. March, 1765, Patrick Henry, who is the leading lights of American Revolution, gave the speech in front of Virginian audience. He responded the oppressive against the control of British. he turned colonial ideas against negotiation with England and toward armed rebellion. Patrick Henry illustrates the themes of freedom in the speech to Virginia convention through the use of the statement that there is no middle ground between freedom and slavery, the experience that how British desecrates their freedom and the emphasis on the importance of freedom.…

    • 490 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In 1874, Mary Ellen’s case shined a light on Abuse of children and was brought by American Society for the Prevention of cruelty to Animals, which later passed a law to protect children from physical abuse from their parents. During the trial, the judge ordered for Ellen to be brought into the court room and from there she gave her heart-wrenching testimony. This testimony made such an impact in history that the author, physician, and writer Howard Markel revealed her story in the New York Times in 2009. In this composition Markel uses appeals as strategies to reveal and remind the audience of Ellen’s case and form a movement to prevent it and protect victims, which is an effort that continues today. In Markel strategies he mostly uses an emotional appeal which is more effective in this composition because the language used in Ellen’s testimony evokes the senses and brings emotion to the audience and helps them to relate her. Her testimony provides concrete evidence which Markel used to give his composition a logical appeal.…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Authors use many different types of rhetoric and rhetorical devices to develop their arguments and as a means of convincing others. In the letter written to her son, John Quincy Adams, Abigail Adams uses two rhetorical devices in an attempt to ensure that her son is not displeased with her after she encourages him to travel abroad with his father. Abigail uses logos to appeal to his sense of logic as well as pathos to appeal to his emotions.…

    • 482 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the “Address to the People of Massachusetts on Chappaquiddick” Senator Edward Kennedy attempts to persuade the audience to forgive him and understand that his behavior after this tragic accident is not a part of his character, but just one action of fleeing the scene to which he pleads guilty. He adopts an apologetic tone in order to appeal to the people emotionally and allow the audience to see that he regrets the actions he made.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Winthrop preaches about unity and togetherness to his fellow Puritans, weary and trepidatious about the dangers of their voyage and upcoming settlement, in order to reassure them that their shared religion will keep them all safe and that everything will be okay. Throughout his sermon, he repeats the word “we”, instilling a sense of a common identity into those with him. By saying “we” instead of “I”, he makes his audience sure that he is no different from any of them; that he needs them as much as they need him. He supports this later by claiming that they must show each other “brotherly affection” and keep the ship devoid of any dissension. Furthermore, continuing along the lines of conflictless unity, he alludes to the prophet Micah, who wrote books present in the Old Testament. Many of his books were centered around an idea of a warless world.…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kennedy’s audience, his fellow citizens, dignitaries and citizens from foreign countries, were all awaiting the plans that the new president had. The people who voted for him and those who didn't wanted to see if this new and young president was going to be fit for the job. Kennedy‘s point of view from the driver's seat, he wanted to abolish all forms of human poverty. He recognized that this was an era of renewal and also change, and he was going to fight to remind people that the “rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.” Although early in his presidency, Congress opposed many of the ideas that Kennedy had in mind, but that didn't stop him from fighting for what he believed.…

    • 987 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Foreword- Every time Michael wakes up he goes and gets his slaves to make sure they are working by the time he’s up. And if they are not he really hurts them and it’s not fair to the slaves and he is very hard on them. He doesn’t pay them anything even though he is one of the most richest Americans. He owns 100 slaves, 3 houses, and 10 plantations, and has 600 million dollars. At auctions he spends lots of money on these slaves and he purposely separates people from their families cause he is just an evil rich person. He hates slaves and black people and if he ever sees a black person by his house walking around or looking suspicious he takes them and makes them work for him, it is very harsh. The slaves hate him but have no choice but to follow…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On November 19, 1863 Abraham Lincoln gave a reverent and humbling speech for the soldiers who had given their lives at the battle of Gettysburg for the reform and advancement of the country. He states that the brave men who here gave their last full measure of devotion” should be highly esteemed for the sacrifice they made. Lincoln establishes his ideas through the usage of rhetorical devices such as, an appeal to ethos, parallelism, and juxtaposition.…

    • 282 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    • 884 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “The Carnivore’s Dilemma”, an essay by Nicolette Hanh Niman, incorporates rhetorical elements, such as logos, ethos, and rhetorical questions, in an attempt to convince the audience that meat itself is not the root of global warming. Written from a rancher’s point of view, the essay relies on studies and logic to prove itself. Niman starts out with a short acknowledgement that the meat industry has a hand in the increasingly noticeable global climate change. She then quickly changes gears, stating that the studies that show the meat industry is a major player in global warming only take the prevailing methods of producing meat into account and spews facts that show the flip side of the food industry.…

    • 884 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    • 1214 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the 1992 speech by Mary Fisher titled “A Whisper of AIDS” she speaks to not only the people attending the 1992 Republican National Convention, but the world and all who can listen to her speak. She speaks of a condition known as “AIDS” (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) that springs from the origin HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and is the cause of thousands of deaths every year. She uses pathos to persuade her audience that AIDS is a concern in our nation by using the emotions fear, anxiety, and sympathy. She uses anxiety and fear interchangeably, making her argument strong; all the while, she talks to her young sons directly to spark a resilient sympathy from her audience. The speaker is HIV positive herself and uses that to make the audience sympathize with her. She is an ordinary wife and mother that appeals to those who are in denial they’re at risk. AIDS is a disease that is lurking quietly at our doorstep.…

    • 1214 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Parents tend to have a set of morals they wish to pass on to their children, but getting them to actually adopt said morals can be a challenge. In Lord Chesterfield’s letter, he instructs his son to uphold important values, such as integrity, generosity, and excellence, making his argument more convincing by utilizing key rhetorical strategies. Chesterfield incorporates winding paralipsis, flowing periphrasis, and strong didactic language to create a piece that effectively presents his view on how a young man should behave.…

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays