Find 2 examples of parallelism & 2 quotations that demonstrate Patrick Henry's attempt to build/maintain ethos/logos/pathos.

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cneukam1379 eNotes educator| Certified Educator

Most of the time, when students are looking for examples of parallelism, they look for a series of three or more. However, some of the best examples in Henry's speech are between two parallel elements which are in contrast. This is known as antithesis.  For instance, early in the speech, Henry states, "The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery." For Henry, he sees the convention's inaction as an acceptance of the slavery of the British Empire upon them, but with revolution, there would be freedom. This is very much an emotional appeal to the delegates. In fact, Henry uses the image of slavery throughout the speech.

One of my favorite examples of parallelism in this speech comes in the third paragraph, when Henry is really fired up: 


I like this example because Henry lists the ways in which the Colonies have attempted to solve their disagreements with Britain without violence; however, the second sentences give the effect of all of their efforts, as the Crown eventually spurns them and their attempts. In this middle paragraph, Henry mostly utilizes logos to appeal to the logical side of the convention delegates. He gives the cause and effect of their actions. Because the Colonies have tried all of these peaceful actions which have been thrown back in their faces, Henry illustrates his belief that there is nothing left to do but to fight. 


teachertaylor eNotes educator| Certified Educator

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:


He uses parallelism here to ask the House to consider the position of the American forces.

In the entire speech, Henry moves from appeals to ethos, to logos, and then to pathos.  At the beginning of the address, he makes an appeal to patriotism to suggest his loyality to the colonies and the government:  "No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as the abilities, of the very worth gentlemen who have just addressed the House."

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: 


Finally, Henry ends the speech with appeals to pathos to arouse the audience and encourage them to resist the British forces: 


Henry maintains a continuum of appeals in his speech to persuade the House to act.