Name:______

Date:______

Hour: ______

Study Guide – Unit 4:Patrick Henryand Rhetorical Devices

THE MAN:

  1. Patrick Henry lived during a period known as the ______. Before entering politics, Henry was a ______. At the age of _____, he became a member of the ______House of Burgesses.

Patrick Henry was a patriot who firmly believed in freedom and liberty. In 1765,he delivered a speech in which he declared opposition to the ______. This was a ______placed on all ______including ______, ______, ______and ______. The British government forced this tax onto the colonists in order to pay back money spent during the ______War. Henry and other patriots were ______about this tax because they were not adequately represented in Parliament at the time and they felt as if they had no voice in the matter. Within the year the tax was ______. Nevertheless, the British government found new ways to impose its will onto the colonists, and over the next ten years tensions built. Soon a revolution seemed in inevitable.

In March of 1775, Patrick Henry delivered the “______

______” in which he successfully persuaded the Virginia legislature to ______.

Today, Patrick Henry is known as one of the greatestoratorsin history. Today his “Speech to the Virginia Convention” is best known by its most famous line, as the“______

______” speech.

10 pts.

THE SPEECH:

  1. In the first paragraph, Henry states, “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…”

What is the “question before the House”? Which rhetorical is used in the underlinedsection of this statement? What effect does this have on you, the audience?

The question is are we go to war or not.

  1. In the beginning of paragraph three, what reason does Henrygive for believing the British government will continue to oppress the colonists?Does this seem like a logical appeal?(is this a logical point?) Explain.

He has no way of judging the future but by the past. Yes, it's logical because why would they randomly change their ways.

  1. In paragraphs three and four, Henry asks a series of rhetorical questions(lines 11-13/par 3 and lines 1-3/par 4).
  2. What is the purpose of arhetorical question?
  1. What is Patrick Henry’s purpose for asking this series of rhetorical questions?(What is he wanting his audience to consider?)

To make the audience think of the answer.

Britishs actions.

  1. Some people argued that the colonies were too weak to fight the mighty British Empire, which was the largest military power in the world at that time. What is Henry’s rebuttal to this argument?(Lines 1-6/par 6)?

They will stay weak if they don't try to fight.

  1. What rhetorical device(s) besides rhetorical question does Henry use in the following quote: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?”

Restatement.

  1. At the beginning of his speech, Henry says that the “question before the House” is “nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery” but by the end of his speech, he is not content with this choice. By the end of his speech, what is the only choicethey have, according to Henry? Is this an effective way to end his speech? Why or why not?

Freedom or death.

  1. Henry’s speech ends with the now famous exclamation, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”
  1. Which rhetorical device(s) is/are used in this line?
  1. What makes this line so memorable, in our opinion?

THE AUDIENCE RESPONSE:

  1. Do you think Henry was prepared to stand behind his exclamation, “Give me liberty or give me death”? Why or why not? Use evidence from the text, your own prior knowledge, or from his personal biographyto support your response.
  1. What does his willingness to make such an assertion reveal about his character? What else is revealed about Henry’s character through this speech? (What kind of man was he?) Include the specific evidence from the text that supports your response.

THE ENLIGHTENMENT NOTES:

  1. When did the Enlightenment take place in America (during what decade/century/etc.)?
  2. Use ONE word to summarize the Enlightenment?
  3. What brought about the end of the period known as Puritanism?
  4. Contrast Puritanism to the Enlightenment. In what ways were the two periods different?
  5. What are the major characteristics of the literature written during the Enlightenment period?
  6. What were the most common genres published during this time?
  7. Who were some of the most famous authors writing during this period?
  8. What were some of the most famous documents written during this period, in America?
  9. The Enlightenment was a rejection of tradition, religion, and faith. True/False
  10. The Enlightenment began in Europe and then gradually moved to America. True/False

WORDS TO KNOW:

Slavery(what is the meaning of the word as used in this speech?)

Name:______

Date:______

Hour: ______

Despot

Unanimity

Inestimable

Remonstrated

Vigilant

Base (basely)