Discuss all of your annotations on this reading. This is what you
were told to read for:
1)
Three rhetorical questions and the assumed
answers from the speech. Why include these questions? Example:
“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
2)
Allusion: find another mention of a
literary/historical/biblical event. Any thoughts as to why it would
be included? Take a guess…
3)
How does this fit in the topic (the individual
and society)?
4)
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:
1)
Pick an allusion your group understands and
explain why you feel Patrick Henry included it
2)
Post your best pieces of Textual Evidence on:
·
Freedom/Independence
·
Individual and Society
3)
What is the implied answer and why does he
ask it?
·
Line 17-20 (1s group)
·
Line 24-27 (2s group)
·
Line 30-32 (3s group)
·
Line 41-45 (4s group)
·
Line 63-68 (5s group)
·
Line 83-84 (6s group)
Group #3: Ellie, Kaylea and Kathryn
ReplyDelete1) "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." The illusion is about Hope and how without taking action, nothing is going to get resolved. They cannot just lay back and pretend like nothing is going to happen if they don't make it happen.
2) Freedom/Independence: "Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.
Individual and Society: "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."
3)"Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?" He is asking them if they think that Britain is sending all the soldiers and ships out of love for them and wanting to win back their loyalty. But, the colonists have been paying their taxes and being complaint to the crown and so there is no reason for the crown to try and 'win back' trust and respect.
Group #4: Holly, Britta, and Richard
ReplyDelete1. Lines 15-17. Henry included this allusion because it is a mythical story that everyone knows and understands. The sirens would lure sailors in with their songs and it would lead them to destruction. Henry is making the connection that if they keep having hope that everything will get better, it will lead them all to destruction.
2. Freedom/Independence: "There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged!"
Individual/Society: "...I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve."
3. "And what have we to oppose them?" Nothing. Henry is saying that they have no defense against the British if they don't fight. "Shall we try argument?" No. They have been trying for 10 years but it hasn't worked. "Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication?" No. It won't prove their point if they have to beg for it. "What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?" None. We have tried everything already and we haven't had any good results yet.
Group 1- Tyler, Carolina, Kinzie, Erica
ReplyDeleteWhen Henry talks about England tricking American people into believing that things are going to get better. And no amount of hope can fix it. We tie this with Circe luring men to the island; England is Circe and the men that Circe lures are the soon to be colonists.
Independence: "For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery" (Henry 230)
Individual and Society: "But different men see the same subject in different light; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen.."
Implied answer is no, it is not the part of the wise men. They need to know the truth, open their eyes and face reality even if its hard. He says it to open the eyes of the wise men.
Group #6 (Whitney, Liza, Jake):
ReplyDeleteAllusion: Line 22-23. Patrick Henry used the biblical symbol of the lamp to use in his allusion to signify the journey that is taking place. The lamp is showing that there is only one path that the light will light and that is the path that the man chose to follow in order to give freedom and liberty to the United States of America. (Psalms 119:105)
Freedom/Independence: Line 85-86. Patrick Henry says this to show just how important the idea of freedom and independence are to the United States. He is challenging the government and giving them an ultimatum. Give him Liberty or give him death. He will not tolerate the idea of lukewarm freedom.
Individual and society: Line 1-6. Patrick Henry is saying how he is doing something that nobody else would do. He doesn't mean to be disrespectful to the other gentlemen but he cannot keep what he is feeling inside anymore. His opinions are his opinions and he hopes to shed some light on the subject and make the people see that what is happening.
Rhetorical Question: The Unites States has men dying in the fields and everyone is standing around, watching while they die. The question, "Why stand here idle" is self explanatory. They should go out there and finish this fight. Standing by while we watch our loved ones and men of the country die isn't helping anything.
Allusion: An example of an allusion is when he mentioned the new tax laws that the First Continental Congress had protested against. He says, "Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?" King George did withdraw the tax with some conditions after the protest, but the colonists were not happy with these conditions. Henry is drawing a parallel with this previous political event.
ReplyDeleteFreedom/independence: An example of liberty would be when he says " give me liberty or give me death" Henry is implying that he would rather die instead of not being free.
Individual vs Society: " They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have sen so long forging" Henry is saying that the army that British is sending over is meant for no one else but us. To keep us in check and stop them from rebelling to keep the them from breaking the chains or "slavery" that they have been under for all this time.
Line 63-68: The lines pretty much ask when they are going to take action. That they should take action now while they can and not when Britain has the upper hand. There is no other good time than now and they should take the opportunity to do so.
Group 2- Adam, Walker, Alyssa
ReplyDelete1. In lines 15-17, Henry references the Odyssey. In the Odyssey, the goddess Circe transforms people into pigs. Henry is saying people should turn their backs to Britain. He compares Britain to the goddess, saying they will transform the people in a similar way.
2. Freedom/Independence: Lines 55-60 "If we wish to be free...we must fight!"
Individual and Society: Lines 47-50 "Sir, we have done...ministry and Parliament."
3. Line 24-27- Henry is judging the future by the past. Britain is using the people of America to suit their own purposes. After Henry clarifies that, he tells the people that Britain's intentions are not clear. Do not fall into their trap.