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What does song of the sirens mean by Patrick Henry in his speech Virginia convention?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Its sort of like a figure of speech, he means that the sirens are sounding off and he uses song instead of noise....hard to explain.
I beg to differ. Although understanding the text is difficult, it helps the reader if they know their Greek mythology. When Patrick Henry says "We are apt to shut our eyes against the painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she turns us into beasts." he is refering to the Greek storyteller Homer and his story of "The Odyssey". Sirens were these creatures who's song could temp any man and lure them away from their courses. TO which these sirens would eat them after they sunk the men's ships. Henry was referring to Circe and how she lured the men into her home, fed them and then turned them into pigs to eat them.
Henry compares this to the habits of man, who often neglect or ignore the truth in order to make it seem what it truly is. They would often "...shut their eyes.." than see it for what it truly is.
Is classified as Pathos (appeals to the audience) due to the ignorance of man.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoPatrick Henry, and many others of his time, would have been well versed in mythology making it a useful tool for comparison.
Henry states, "...it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts."
"That siren" then is hope. Hope will ruin people. Henry believed that there was no chance of freedom without fighting, so simply hoping for a chance was worthless without taking action.
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Who did Patrick Henry deliver his speech to?
house of burgesses * the delegates of the Virginia convention
Patrick Henry speech in the Virginia convention complaints against the British?
Patrick Henry's "Speech to the Virginia Convention" was a proposal to raise Virginia's milita in order to one day execute a complete break from Britain and also to raise Virginia's defense.
The likely audience Patrick Henrys speech is intended for is?
the delegates of the second virginia convention
In this sentence from Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia Convention what is the meaning of the word reconciled?
Controlled (APEX) :):):):):):):):):)
Why does Patrick Henry make use of a biblical quotation in his speech to the Virginia convention?
To appeal to his audience faith
Who did Patrick Henry deliver his speech to?
house of burgesses * the delegates of the Virginia convention
Why does Henry ask so many rhetorical questions in his speech?
In his "Speech to Virginia Convention " Patrick Henry argues that the colonies have already what
Patrick Henry speech in the Virginia convention complaints against the British?
Patrick Henry's "Speech to the Virginia Convention" was a proposal to raise Virginia's milita in order to one day execute a complete break from Britain and also to raise Virginia's defense.
When did Patrick Henry deliver a speech to the Virginia Convention?
March 23, 1775
The likely audience Patrick Henrys speech is intended for is?
the delegates of the second virginia convention
Who wrote the speech to the second virginia conference?
Patrick Henry is credited with writing the speech delivered to the Second Virginia Convention in 1775, which included the famous line "Give me liberty, or give me death!"
In this sentence from Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia Convention what is the meaning of the word reconciled?
Controlled (APEX) :):):):):):):):):)
Who did Patrick Henry say give you liberty or give you death to?
It was part of a speech he gave to the Virginia Convention.
Why does Patrick Henry make use of a biblical quotation in his speech to the Virginia convention?
To appeal to his audience faith
Does Patrick Henry use inductive or deductive reasoning in his speech at the Virginia Convention?
Inductive- Specific to General.
Who was the Speech in the Virginia Convention addressed to?
The delegates of the Virginia Convention
What was the purpose of Patrick Henry's speech to the Virginia Convention?
to convince delegates to war from the coming British attack.
