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Speech to the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry (p.105)-

1. How did Henrys speech affect you?

3. In paragraph four, what metaphors does Henry use to describe the coming war?

4. Henry makes use of the rhetorical questiona question that is asked for effect.Rhetorical questions, which are often used in persuasion, presume the audience agrees

with the speaker on the answers, and so no answer is expected or required. Find a series

of rhetorical questions in the fifth paragraph of this speech. Why do you think Henry usesthis device, rather than straightforward statements of fact, to make his points? How does

this technique make his speech more persuasive?

5.Because Henrys audience knew the Bible, as well as classical mythology, the oratorknew he could count on certain allusions producing emotional effects. Look up the

classical or Biblical passages Henry alludes to in each of the following statements from

his speech. How would each allusion relate to the conflict in Virginia in 1775? Could any

of them relate to life today? Explain.a. We are apt to...listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.

(Odyssey, Books 10 and 12)b. Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having

ears, hear not the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? (Ezekiel

12:2)

c. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. (Luke 22:47-48)

from The Crisis, No. 1 by Thomas Paine (p. 112)-

1. Which passages in this excerpt were especially stirring?

2. The pamphlet opens with two famous images (page 108). What kinds of people doesPaine identify with summer and sunshine? Why are these images appropriate?

3. Explain the meaning of Paines metaphor Mutual fear is the principal link in the chainof mutual love (page 111). Do you agree or disagree with this idea, and why?

4. An analogy is a comparison between two things that are alike in certain respects.

Analogies are used often in argument and persuasion to demonstrate the logic of one ideaby showing how it is similar to another, accepted idea. Analogies can be tricky, though,

because few ideas or situations are completely alike in all aspects. What analogy does

Paine draw when he talks about the thief (page 110)? What point is he making, and howmight an opponent answer?

fromThe Autobiography: The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson

(p. 125)

1. What word, phrase, or image struck you as most important? Why?

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2. What changes show a desire not to make an absolute break with the English people?

Why do you think it would be important that the new nation maintain its consanguinity,

or close kinship, with the English people?

3. Which changes seem to have been adopted primarily for stylistic reasons, such as

clarity or greater impact, and which for political reasons?

4. Find at least two passages in the Declaration that use parallelism. What is the effect of

the parallel structure on the idea of the passage?