The author mainly supports his counterargument in the excerpt by appealing to the listener's emotions. Patrick Henry's speech is charged with passionate language and dramatic assertions about liberty, strength, and inevitability of conflict, all aimed at stirring the emotions of his audience to inspire them to action.
"Patrick Henry
Speech"
by Patrick Henry
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.
The 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 base 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 clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
Use the passage to answer the question.
How does the author mainly support his counterargument in the excerpt?
(1 point)
• He uses a call to action.
• He uses facts and evidence.
• He appeals to the listener's
emotions.
• He uses analogies to more familiar ideas.
1 answer
1 answer