In 1775, Patrick Henry convinces the colonists in his “Speech to the Virginia
Convention” to fight for independence. Prior to Henry’s speech, a significant amount of colonists
desired to stay under Britain’s rule, especially in regions such as New England, filled with
loyalist populations. Patrick Henry effectively integrates several rhetorical devices into his
speech to sway colonial loyalists towards opposing their mother country, Great Britain. The
devices of allusion, logos, metaphors, and diction, combined with other rhetoric, create a
centralized argument urging for war against Britain.
The first device that Patrick Henry employs is allusion. He references Homer’s Odyssey,
along with other great works, labeling the colonists
Convention” to fight for independence. Prior to Henry’s speech, a significant amount of colonists
desired to stay under Britain’s rule, especially in regions such as New England, filled with
loyalist populations. Patrick Henry effectively integrates several rhetorical devices into his
speech to sway colonial loyalists towards opposing their mother country, Great Britain. The
devices of allusion, logos, metaphors, and diction, combined with other rhetoric, create a
centralized argument urging for war against Britain.
The first device that Patrick Henry employs is allusion. He references Homer’s Odyssey,
along with other great works, labeling the colonists