1. Patrick Henry

2. Henry seldom wrote out his speeches
Spoke impromptu with emotions of moment
Reconstructed speeches from notes & memory – unsure of exact content

3. Background Raised in a cultivated family Studied Latin
Married at 18 – became a farmer
By age 23 became lawyer to escape debts - won most of his cases

4. Political Career Elected to Virginia House of Burgesses at age 30
Outspoken orator for Revolutionary War – 2 fiery speeches
1. Opposition to Stamp Act – treason!
2. Resistance to England
“Give me liberty or give me death” – Labeled as traitor

5. Career Cont. Elected governor of Virginia – 5 yrs
Helped author Virginia constitution
Led movement to create Bill of Rights due to opposition to the Constitution.

6. Political leanings
He felt the Constitution gave the federal government too much power.
He became more conservative with age.

7. Oratory example:
The president’s speech from Independence Day

8. Charged Words
Charged words are words with strong connotations beyond their literal meaning that are likely to produce an emotional response.
Tyranny (evokes a feeling of fear, suggests living in a state of terror)
Liberty (suggests an ideal life characterized by freedom)
Justice (can be associated with freedom and equality)
Honor (evokes a sense of morality and dignity)

9. Oratory A form of public speaking
Contents of speech for emphasis include:
Charged words
Allusion
Rhetorical questions
Repetition
Restatement
Parallelism
Exclamation

10. Allusion
Allusions are an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

11. Rhetorical question
Rhetorical question/questions are the questions the speaker asks the audience. However, the audience internalizes the answer. Nothing is answered orally.

12. Repetition
Repetition is repeating the exact same words over again.

13. Restatement
Restatement is stating the same idea in different words

14. Parallelism
Parallelism refers to the repeated use of phrases, clauses, or sentences that are similar in structure or meaning. Writers use this technique to emphasize important ideas, create rhythm, and make their writing more forceful and direct.

15. Understanding Parallelism
Faulty Parallelism
“For my own part, what ever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth: to know the worst and I will provide for it.”
Effective Parallelism
“For my own part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

16. Exclamation
Also used in some speeches is the use of the exclamation (or highly emotional or provocative statements)

17. “I have a dream”

18. Listen and follow along
“Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry (p )

19. Partner or alone
Read again w/ WS

20. Hollywood’s interpretation
Taken from the 22 minute short film from 1936 "Give Me Liberty" which starred John Litel as Patrick Henry

21. End