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Henry's Speech

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Submitted By nikivandiver
Words 949
Pages 4
Adv. Composition
30 August 2011
Arguing for Freedom As a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry strongly supported joining the American Revolution to break away from Great Britain. Henry delivered a speech to his fellow House members at the Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, to persuade the voting to favor his decision to fight for freedom. The strong title of Give Me Liberty or Give Me Freedom represents the climax of the speech and Henry’s primary message. Henry utilizes various rhetorical strategies to appeal to the audience and support the purpose of the argument. Numerous schemes and tropes, such as hyperboles, metaphors, erotema, antithesis, and repetition draw attention to the purpose of the speech and demand focus from the audience. Appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos strategically employed throughout the speech enhance the overall effect of the argument. By properly exhausting rhetorical strategies, Henry creates a demanding yet respectful tone that is strong, honorable, and persuasive.
Henry identifies his great respect for the audience and opposing opinions in the first lines of the speech with the statement, “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.” Such a bold yet respectful tone illustrates Henry’s purpose accurately and delivers the controversial message without offending the audience. Hyperboles are applied in the first paragraph to emphasize the interpretation of the argument. The word “sentiments” is stated instead of opinion which enhances the meaningful impact of the word and stimulates the audience’s emotions. In addition, hyperboles such as “ceremony,” “magnitude,” and “revere” all play a significant role in creating more drama to emotionally appeal

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