Analysis of Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention

Exordium
1. Paragraphs 1-2 is the exordium. Give an example of how Henry engages his audience’s
interest and attempts to prepare them for the argument to come.

He makes it known that he cant hold back his opinion in this time and that he
hopes not to offend and hurt people with a different opinion just that hes stating
his thoughts on it.
2. What is the purpose of the speech?

Its to make to speak his mind on an issue and make it known to the public, he sees
it as nothing less than a matter of freedom or slavery.
3. What are ways that Henry establishes his respect for the audience and his own worthiness
to be heard?

He states that hes trying not to offend them and is stating that his opinion might
be very opposite to theirs. He also says that he feels that if he were to hold back
his opinion on the matter he would be guilty or treason and guilty of treason
against God.
Narratio and Confirmatio
4. Both of these parts can be found in the long third paragraph. Write down several
examples of narratio (where Henry gives background or context for the argument).

5. Write down several examples of confirmatio (where Henry offers claims and evidence in
support of his argument).

6. You might have noted that this paragraph contains several rhetorical questions. In fact,
this paragraph contains a special type of rhetorical question call hypophora. Unlike a
typical rhetorical question, which is not answered by the speaker, a hypophora asks a
question and then answers it. Find two examples of this in paragraph 3. Comment on the
effect of this device on an audience.

Line 32-33 asks if Britain has an enemy that demands for all those armies in their
part of the world and then say no it does not. Then in like 27-28 it asks if it’s a
display of love and if we’ve proven ourselves so stubborn that we need force, and
that no we haven’t. It’s helps the audience understand and it invokes emotions
from them.
Refutatio

7. The fourth paragraph is the refutatio. What is the counterargument that Henry notes?
Analysis of Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention

He makes the counterargument about how America is not weak and can defend
itself. Have soldiers in everyones houses doesn’t make them stronger.

8. Write down several examples of how Henry refutes this counterargument.

He says that God keeps them strong and that millions of people armed with the holy
cause of liberty cannot be stopped.

9. Henry’s tone changes in this paragraph. How would you describe his tone and how does his
shift into this new tone match the content of the speech?

He changes his tone from a respectful point to a very loud outspoken and passionate one.

Peroratio

10. Show the line where each element of a peroratio is utilized:

a. Restate argument 67
b. Amplify argument 68
c. Rouse audience to action 69-71
d. Inspire 72

11. Focus in on the famous last sentence. Why is this line so meaningful considering the larger
context of the speech itself.

Its very meaningful considering the face that the speech is on freedom, hed rather die,
than be a slave to Britain
12. Our theme for this unit has been “revolution vs. rebellion.” In what ways do you see these
two concepts appearing in this speech?
A revolution is something that hadn’t been though up coming into action, like the industrial
revolution. A rebellion is overthrowing something that already exists for something new. The
thought concept of the speech would be the revolution part, the rebellion part is him telling
people to take up arms and that hes going to have freedom for die gaining it.