*Three rhetorical questions and the assumed answers from the speech. Why include these questions? “Is this the part of wise men…” he wants listeners to think that, no, wise men search for freedom with open eyes, seeing truth.
Look at these specific places and discuss:What is the implied
answer and why does he ask it?
*Line 17-20,
24-27, 30-32, 41-45, 63-68, 83-84
*Allusion: find another mention of a literary/historical/biblical event. Any thoughts as to why it would be included? Take a guess…
*How does this fit in the topic (the individual and society)?
*How do you see themes of independence or freedom in this speech? (Themes of the era)
Once you have talked through all of these, post as a comment to this post your groups answers to this:
*Pick an allusion your group understands and explain why you feel Patrick Henry included it
*Post your Best pieces of Textual
Evidence on:
*Freedom/Independence
*Individual and
Society
*What is the implied
answer and why does he ask it?
*Line 17-20 (1s group),
24-27 (2s group), 30-32 (3s group), 41-45 (4s group), 63-68 (5s group), 83-84 (6s group)
We think that he mentions God because he is a big focus in this time era. He also mentions freedom of speech because he knows that that's what the people want. He says, "...and in the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of debate."
ReplyDeleteHe is informing people about history. He wants people to change history and not repeat history.
Maddie, Dakota, Jacob
ReplyDeleteOne of the allusions found in the speech is on lines 15-17. This allusion is an illusion of hope that connects to the Odyssey. This allusion is stating that the colonists are not seeing reality of their position with Great Britain and that they are "listening to the song of the siren" since they turned away from reality and what is actually going on.
One piece of textual evidence that describes freedom is on lines 6-9. Part of this textual evidence states, "... and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate." This is stating that Patrick Henry believes he has the right to state his opinion in his speech, which is the idea of freedom of speech.
In lines 63-68 it is implied that there is no hope to not fight, and there is no other way to achieve freedom other than to fight. He is asking questions such as "But when shall we be stronger" because he wants to make the point that there is no point in waiting to fight any longer. Great Britain will continue to create rules for the colonists unless they stop "laying supinely on their backs" and fight.
Line 18-19 saying they are trying to act blind to what the actual problems is, putting it in there to say that they are all ignoring their problems and to tell the men that they lazy and hoping it could make them change.
ReplyDeleteFreedom/independence: lines 48-53. "Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrance have produced an additional violence and insult;" That they've done all that to get their freedom.
Individual vs society: Line 2-6. "different men often see the same subject in different lights... I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve." Hes an individual willing to speak out against society.
Line 17-20: He wants people to know that they are blind to what is being done and they are denying the truth.
Avery, Matt, Mark, Dani
We chose the allusion where Patrick Henry mentions the Sirens from the Odyssey. Humans block out things that are painful to them automatically, and if they don't like things they will try to avoid it. He uses the Sirens to symbolize the British government making life under their rule seem sweet, when all they're doing is controlling them.
ReplyDeleteOur best piece of textual evidence for freedom and independence is, "For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject aught to be the freedom of the debate."
The best piece for individual and society is, "Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."
The rhetorical questions on lines 83-84 means, is it better to just stand here doing nothing and continue to be treated like slaves than to sacrifice peace and some life. He asks this to show the colonists that freedom is worth the sacrifice of peace and life.
Rhiana, Kayla, Austin
DeleteAllusion: Lines 15-17 "We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts." This alludes to the fears of the people over the fictional story of the Odyssey. Henry included this to bring in the familiar fears of what could happen to the people if no action is taken.
ReplyDeleteFreedom/independence: Lines 85-86 "I know not what the course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"
Individual and Society: Lines 48-50 "We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament."
Rhetorical questions lines 41-45: The implied answer is that the individuals have tried everything peaceful in their power to oppose the British peacefully and nothing has worked. He asks it to prove that nothing else peaceful will work and their last resort is to go to war.
Jordyn Phillips, Genna Erickson, Paul MacKean
DeleteLine 30-32: Patrick Henry wants people to say, "No, armies are not needed to be win back love, so why does Britain send their armies to America? They are not here to be friendly." He puts this rhetorical question in here because he wants people to realize that Britain's motives are not actually friendly, and that the colonists need to do something about it other than protesting/arguing.
ReplyDeleteIndividual and Society: "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"
Freedom and Independence: "If we wish to be free...if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged...we must fight!"
Allusion: "The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone." This is an allusion to Ecclesiastes 9:11, saying that the war and fighting is not just for the strongest people. He's saying that all the colonists, poor or rich, need to fight. He used this allusion to try to get people to support going to war.
-Nick Larson, Nick Klemann, Olivia Markgraf, and Claire Palmquist