Patrick Henry Questions

What does he hope to accomplish by commenting on the earlier speakers?

He hoped that he could earn respect for himself by showing his own respect for the President. He hoped to come across as a respectable man to the audience, not a crazy person, so they would support him and his ideas.

What is Henry's answer to the objection that the colonists are not ready to fight against the British?

Henry says that there are enough people with the motivation to achieve independence, which he says will easily defeat any other country. He also says that God is on their side and will help them through the battle.

What examples does Henry provide to support his position that compromise with the British is not a workable solution?

Henry says that they are ignoring their petitions and attempts to talk to the King in person, fighting their violence with more violence, and doing nothing to change Parliament. He says that England is trying to get the colonies to submit to its will and stop fighting back.

What measures does Henry say the colonists have already tried in their dealing with England?

Henry says the colonist have tried to reason with England through petitions, violence, talked to the King in person, and attempted to get rid of the corruption in Parliament. No of these efforts ended up working.

What does Henry say about the previous speaker at the beginning of the speech?

Henry tells the President that everyone thinks very highly of him and respects him greatly. Henry then says that while they may have different views on the subject, he does not want the President to think he was trying to be disrespectful, which shows his great respect for the President.

Provide an example of an idea that Henry uses throughout the piece to help make his point.

Henry uses the idea that the colonists should fight back against England as it was not listening or acting on the demands of the colonists. He often talked about the different ways they had tried to reason with England and how all of those attempts failed. He then goes on to say how they should fight against them, as it is the only thing they have not tried and has a good chance of working in the colonists' favor.

What course of action does Henry want the colonists to take?

Henry wants the colonists to break away from England by declaring their independence and fighting them in a war.

If you had been in the audience, how would you have responded to Henry's speech? Why?

I would have agreed with Henry and responded with anger and motivation. I would have reacted this way because Henry was very convincing in his speech and affected me emotionally. When he talked about how England was ignoring our proposals and trying to get us to submit to them that would have made me angry and motivated to fight. He also used strong words and phrases like we must fight that made me want to do what he said.

An allusion is a reference in one piece of literature to another piece of literature, historical event, current event, etc. Provide two examples of allusion from the text.

One example is when Henry says, "Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received." This line refers to recent political events of the King turning down different petitions to change different acts and laws. Another example of allusion in this speech comes from the line, "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?" This quote alludes to the biblical idea of see no evil; hear no evil, in which people are unaware of the things that are happening around them.

What types of people living in the colonies at the time of Henry's speech might have reacted negatively to his words? Who would have reacted positively? Explain your answers.

People who were still loyal to England would have reacted negatively because they did not want to break away from England; they only wanted England to make some changes. More radical people who were ready to break away from England and become free would have reacted positively because Henry urged them to fight for their independence and backed up many of their own ideas.