Close Reading Assignment over Patrick Henry's Speech

They tell us, sir, that we are weak-unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. 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. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were based enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanging may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable- and let it come! I repeat it, sire, let it come!

In this passage, the thing that I really noticed was the use of repetition. Through out the whole passage, Henry uses repetition a lot like when he says sir, which he says about 5 or 6 times in the passage. I think that he does that, to show respect to who he is reading the speech to. He also uses phrases like we will, or we have, which really makes you feel united as one thing, which is what is needed if he is playing to go to war. In the beginning section, I also noticed the use of quite a few rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions make person think about the question and realize, Oh ya, that does make sense, or that does not make sense. And with the rhetorical questions, he uses parallel structure with the Will it, and Shall we, which gives a nice sound when you are reading it. He also uses parallel structure in the later part with the vigilant, the active the brave, which also makes you feel passionate and it does give it the nice sound when you are reading it. Henry also uses Pathos a lot in most of this passage, in the rhetorical questions, it causes me to feel scared and worried and then in the very last part, it makes you feel passionate for the war, especially with all of the exclamation marks, it gives it real vigor and passion. The very first sentence is antithesis, he is saying how people think that they are too weak to fight the British, and then he shoots them down with all of his rhetorical questions. He also uses Logos a bit when he talks about the three million people, which just sounds like so many people, which makes the people feel better about having a chance to win the war. He also uses analogy in the last bit, with the part about chains are forged and the clanging can be heard, kind of an analogy to the slaves. And there is an allusion to God, when he mentions God of nature gave us powers. He also uses a bit of benefits, mentioning that we aren't going to fight this war alone, which makes people feel a lot better knowing that they have help. Using all of this things together makes this speech very well written and a good way to persuade people to agree with the starting of a war against England.