America's Most Influential Speech Analysis

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The Common Purpose Between America's Most Influential Speeches

The famous speeches written by Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine have influenced our country for centuries. Ever since they were made, we have been motivated time after time, especially during the Revolutionary War. If not for these influential speeches, we may not be where we are today. We may still be under the control of Great Britain. These two writers, similar, yet different, both write with a common purpose that most do not really notice. When we think on a deeper level, it is only then we realize what these speeches have in common. The three common features that will be discussed in this essay are how they pertain to religion, what rhetorical devices they utilized, and their audiences along …show more content…
They asked many rhetorical questions throughout their entire speeches, such as "But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or 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?" (Henry, Patrick Paragraph 11.) Or “but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to 'bind me in all cases whatsoever', to his absolute will, am I to suffer it?” ( Paine, Thomas. Paragraph 6.) Both of these questions are meant to add on to the thought process of the audience, yet are strong rhetorical questions utilized in their speeches. Another frequently used feature in both of these speeches is using analogies and making references to people's daily lives, to show how the war can affect them whether they choose to do something about it or do
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