Terms to know Literary Devices

Allusion A reference to another well-known work found in literature. Generally allusions are references to Greek mythology or the Bible. Example: In act two, Elizabeth states, "Abigail brings the other girls into the court, and where she walks the crowds will part like the sea for Israel." This is referring to Moses, who parted the seas of Israel for the Israelites to escape from the Pharoah's armies. So, it indicates that Abby holds some sort of god-like power of redemption for the town.

Diction Diction is a style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words. Example: Within Patrick Henry's speech, and by looking at his diction and word choice, one could derive he is talking to an upper class group of men. Example: “And the trees all died. They were orange trees. I don’t know why they died, they just died. Something wrong with the soil possibly or maybe the stuff we got from the nursery wasn’t the best. We complained about it. So we’ve got thirty kids there, each kid had his or her own little tree to plant and we’ve got these thirty dead trees. All these kids looking at these little brown sticks, it was depressing” “The School” by Donald Barthelme “The School” by Donald Barthelme:

Parallelism In "Speech to the Virginia Convention," Patrick Henry uses parallel structure when he questions the House about when the country will be stronger and able to endure any attacks by Britain: Example: "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?"

Rhetorical Question Question for which the answer is obvious and/or needs to answer specifically: Example: "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?"

Logos (logical appeal) In the middle of the speech, Henry moves into more logical appeals through his use of rhetorical questions that ask the House to consider the logical implications of not acting against Great Britain: *rhetorical questions are considered logos usually "Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other."

Pathos (emotional appeal) “Chains of slavery” - fear “Give me liberty or give me death!” "Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace, but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!" - See more at:

Ethos (ethical appeal) Trust in the speaker and/or the message. Biblical versus. The law Other documents or people who are trusted in a society

Metaphor I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience

Simile Compares two things using “like” or “as”: Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

Imagery Evokes the senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste.

Symbol Somethings which stands for or evokes the memory of - something else. For instance, the flag of the U.S. is a symbol of freedom and democracy.

Repetition "We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated... Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded..." (Henry p4) -Repetition of "We have" & "Our... have" provides the audience with a sense of unity in the actions that they have done, but have all ignored by the British. -unite against the British

Tone Author’s attitude toward subject affectionate aggravated aloof amused angry apathetic appreciative approving arrogant bitter calm celebratory condescending contemplative critical cynical dark dejected depressed desperate despondent didactic disappointed disapproving happy haughty hurt informal intense ironic joyful lackadaisical languid light-hearted melancholy melodramatic Nervous… disgusted disinterested distant droll earnest ecstatic emphatic encouraging enthusiastic excited facetious formal

Mood: Situation’s atmosphere Calm Cheerful Chilling Comical Dark Depressing Dismal Eerie Fanciful Foreboding Gloomy Melancholic Morbid Mournful Mysterious Ominous Optimistic Pessimistic Powerful Romantic Sad Sinister Soothing Grim Grotesque Heart-breaking Heartrending Holy Hopeful Horrific Intense Joyful Light Lighthearted Sorrowful Spiritual Spooky Terrifying Threatening Tranquila

Works Cited Henry, Patrick. “Speech to the Virginia Convention”. Elements of Literature: Chapter 1 Beginnings to 1800. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Fifth Course. Austin, 2000. 102-104. Print. Greenlee, Diana. “Terms to Know”. Unit 2: The Enlightenment, CFA #2. 15 October 2014. Web.