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Rhetorical Devices In Patrick Henry

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On March 23,1775 Patrick Henry convinced colonists to fight against Britain by using four rhetorical devices which were allusion, imagery, one-word sentences and rhetorical questions.He did this by reading his famous speech called “the Virgina Convention speech”. These four devices helped Patrick Henry convinced many people that were still not willing to go to war. Patrick Henry purpose for using allusion was to helped him connect with the listeners. “Listen to the song of the siren till she transforms us into beast.” ( 263 ). This connects with the listeners because it is a well know story of the time and it helped him not be to harsh but still get the point through. Another example would be when he uses the Christian New Testament. “suffer …show more content…

“We are apt to shut our eyes to a painful truth” (264). He uses this because he knows that this will help them open their eyes and face the truth.Another example would be when said “ They are sent to bind and rivet upon us with those chains… " ( 265). He said this because if they do not do anything about their problem then they're basically chained by the British and if they do not face it they will be under the control their forever.He uses this to show that they are like slaves in imprisonment. Patrick Henry utilized one -word sentences to put emphases on his ideas about going to war. For instance, when he said “Nothing” ( 264). This demonstrates the idea that they have done so much and nothing has changed. This helps him gain more trust and respect because all the information he is giving is true. They have tried everything and the British keep omitting them because in the British eyes they are nothing. By saying this Patrick Henry composed a great amount of confidence. He tries to disprove the opposing side by using many rhetorical questions. “And what have we to oppose them? shall we try arguments? Sir,we have been trying that for the past ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject”

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