AP Language Colonialism Readings

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Elwin Foster
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1 AP Language Colonialism Readings Reading Defense of Freedom of the Press (1) Common Sense (2) Speech to the Second Virginia Convention (3) Speaker Andrew Hamilton Thomas Paine Patrick Henry Occasion In a court trying to convince the jury that his client, John Zinger, was innocent, although he was going against the currently accepted definition of libel (back then) When tensions began to run high with the colonists and Britain, Paine argued that the colonist s dislike of taxes and revolt should be extended to gaining full independence. Giving a speech supporting the arming of the Virginia Militia to fight the British Audience The jury Loyalists Continental Congress Purpose To create a precedent to redefine the word libel which at the time meant that you couldn t say anything offensive about the government or other people To show how the colonists should fight against Britain to gain their independence since their relationship is a parasitic and harmful one, specifically to Subject Tone Religion Liberty Power Government Accusatory Formal Inflammatory loyalists Britain to colonist relationship = bad Reasons to fight including those of how Britain is using the colonies Accusatory Condescending Inflammatory To convince the people to arm the militia to fight Britain Liberty Salvation Inevitable war Religion Urgent Condescending Accusatory v Paragraph Breakdown of Subject and Rhetorical Devices (1) Ø 1 st paragraph overview: agrees with opposing side that government is a sacred institution but not with his definition of libel

2 Concession- says that the argument of the other side that government is important is correct, but then counterargument that his definition of libel is wrong discredits other s argument Ethos Ø 2 nd paragraph overview: heresy in both law and religion, both change often, there is freedom in religion (in New York at the least) and juxtaposed to that is the fact that we cannot be with out Governor if they cant talk about those in power then they are almost like slaves, since we have such great oppressions of liberty if we cannot speak freely Juxtaposition compare/contrast freedom of religion and government Ethos Ø 3 rd paragraph overview: takes other sides argument and reiterates it, then counterargument that people in power abuse their power and that this is the cause of oppression and loss of liberty Counterargument takes other dies argument and then destroys is (possible straw man fallacy) Ethos Anaphora It is said repeated exaggerates how wrong the other side is Ø 4 th Paragraph overview: talks about other sides definition of libel and how it is wrong, brings in examples (biblical) Straw man/counterargument takes other sides argument and discredits it with his definition of libel also uses allusions to prove his point Ethos Allusions uses biblical references to prove that the other sides definition is wrong this is especially effective as everyone is very religious Rhetorical questions further prove that the other side is wrong and that he is right, almost corners the audience of having to admit that he is right at risk of calling their own morals into question Ø 5 th paragraph overview: loss of liberty is worse than death, those in power take away liberty, allusion of Brutus without liberty life is misery Allusion Brutus and Caesar, forging the chains that you will one day wear, powerful statement that you are assisting in the loss of liberty especially effective since governor paid them Ø 6 th paragraph overview: power is a river, power and liberty Metaphor - power is compared to a river, can be both helpful and destructive, (b/c they live by a river) means that if there is too much power than its destructive in that it assists in the loss of liberty

3 Ø 7 th paragraph overview: I am but an old and frail man, yet I still fight for liberty be on guard of power if it will take away what is important to us, liberty, again Ø 8 th paragraph overview: old and weak but still fighting for liberty, very humble, men in power cause oppression of liberty, the question of court is no small concern, its liberty! Do you prefer slavery or freedom? Libel definition again Ø Overall: Bandwagons wants others to jump on board and thus has los of arguments of I m doing this due to this pathos(y) reason and if you don t then you don t like liberty and you are an awful person v Paragraph breakdown of subject and rhetorical devices (2) Ø 1 st paragraph overview: many things have been said about America and England relationship very different ideas Ø 2 nd paragraph overview: some say that the relationship between American and England is good, that we benefit it, this is entirely wrong, we are suffering because they are taking what is ours Analogy the analogy that since a child has been healthy off of milk he never needs meat, compared to how we do well under Europe, but we would do so much better on our own Ø 3rd paragraph overview: England has protected us say some Ø 4 th paragraph overview: England only protects us for their own self interest Personification Britain = her and is using America and taking advantage of us, at what cost? Ø 5 th paragraph overview: but England is the mother country, still parasitic, monster Metaphor compares what England is going to a mother who eats her young = showing how harmful that the relationship between England and America is and the also a parasite and a monster with the same effect Ø 6 th paragraph overview: challenge anyone to name a benefit of England, there is none Repetition repeats challenge makes it more obvious that there are no benefits Ø 7 th paragraph overview: we should not depend on Britain as they cause destruction and war everywhere they do with no benefit Ø 8 th paragraph overview: if England goes to war then the trade of America suffers everything points to the need for separation Ø 9 th paragraph overview: America is lucky to be so far away physically Boston very unfortunate, armies

4 Much pathos Ø 10 th paragraph overview: asks rhetorical questions about what they are enduring, should not shake hands with murderers or you are a coward Rhetorical questions add intensity to argument and shoes awfulness of England Ø 11 th paragraph overview: everything that we have done has failed petitions etc. nothing but war will fix this and for God s sake we should come to a final separation Ø 12 th paragraph overview: Britain cannot fully take care of America from such a distance and its not logical (logos) Narrative call for action to fight For if they cannot conquer us they cannot govern us Ø 13 th paragraph overview: absurd for an island to govern a continent, we must reverse the order of nature Ø 14 th paragraph overview: no king of America besides god, but the law is king Metaphor the law is king, the law is what people listen to and has power, no longer the king, direct criticism of England Ø 15th paragraph overview: natural right for us to have our own government, it is a good decision to fight for this because we need it, it is logical Ø 16 th paragraph overview: the time for peace and reconciliation is past, injuries we cannot forgive, continues on reasons we cannot forgive England Rhetorical questions (1 st two sentences) further proves his point, also makes such a stark contrast (Prostitute and innocence) that it is very convincing Analogy lover and mistress to Britain and America points out how unforgiveable the situation is (really not okay during the time) Personification she = nature, restore order Ø 17 th paragraph overview: if you don t like tyranny/the tyrant fight, we are oppressed, the world wants freedom, free America so it can be a safe haven Accusatory switch from 1 st to 2 nd person shows accusatory Simile/metaphor both hand in hand, freedom = her, (metaphor) and simile = England views her as a stranger this all shows how if we stay under England that we will have freedom like Europe doesn t have freedom. Don t follow that path v Paragraph Breakdown of Subject and rhetorical devices (3)

5 Ø 1 st paragraph overview: sets up his argument saying that although the men present at the conference have made good points that he respectfully disagree, and that he hopes not to offend anyone in his argument which will be unrestrained Refutation he says that he disagrees with others ideas Ethos Ø 2 nd paragraph overview: question of freedom vs. slavery to fight or not fight, decision has much magnitude and they owe it to themselves and God to fight, feels that if he doesn t say what he has to, will commit treason. Extreme: (not really a device per say but is notable) slavery vs. freedom huge difference and shows how important the overall decision is either or argument Ø 3 rd paragraph overview: we should know the whole truth and not be deceived into thinking something that is not true just because the alternative is something that we would rather avoid Knowing the truth is better than avoiding it Ø Allusion songs of sirens transform us into beasts (Odyssey) The good/appealing thing may be a trap and you wont realize it until you are too late Ø Rhetorical Questions 2 nd and 3 rd sentence Directly afterward he answers in 1 st person could be bandwagon Ø 4 th paragraph overview: Idea of future and past and pointing out that from the past interactions with the colonies and Britain that their relationship will not be improving anytime soon, get out now. What the colonists have done to try and stop the unfavorable circumstances that they are in with Britain We must fight! Rhetorical questions there are A TON in this paragraph, important thing to not about them is that he answers them, this is called hypophora which is used to shame the audience since the answers to rhetorical questions should be obvious, answering them seems to show how ignorant the audience is Allusion suffer yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss this is an allusion (biblical) to the last supper and how Judas, a disciple of Jesus betrayed him with a kiss everyone is extremely religious during this time Connotations cover out waters and darken out land connotation of death destruction evil storms and doomsday just to name a few, overall very negative

6 Anaphora we have petitioned we have remonstrated we have supplicated we have prostrated points out that we have done everything to better our relationship with Brittan and if it didn t get better after all of that, in the future it wont either, they cant expect different results from doing the same things, serves to show that we should give it up and gain our freedom Ø 5 th paragraph overview: more reasons for why we should fight, God is with us to fight for our liberty, the war is already inevitable anyways Rhetorical questions: once again A TON, and once again he uses more hypophora some Anaphora in the first few rhetorical questions using shall and will, builds the intensity of his argument Either-or-Fallacy there is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! fallacy in that there are not only two outcomes if we do or don t fight, but is extremely effective in that the contrast is so stark Ø 6 th paragraph overview: war has already begun there is no peace, dramatic ending, give me liberty or give me death! Rhetorical question A TON building up the argument especially effective is is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery is it worth it? It is really? Not so much hypophora in this case however Bandwagon fallacy in the ending he switches tense to 1 st person and says give me liberty or give me death in hopes that others will join the cause Ø Extensions (notes from class) Ø Different lights = perspective Ø Truth = freedom that comes from God Ø Are we disposed to be temporal salvation Rhetorical question Allusion (biblical) Parallel structure Pathos Accuse audience of something Call out people s bad decisions ignoring obvious salvation, liberty also allusion = pathos Ø Metaphor light to God, appeal ethos, saying you should look to the past and present in all that you do, be logical and smart about decisions Ø Inductive argument increase in size from specific to general, tends ot be fallacy, shows that they have been doing things that are not working,

7 so why are you going to keep doing them? Shows that you expect different results from doing the same thing = illogical General in this case = positive results Ø Slavery and rhetorical questions as well as hypophora shows bluntness and audience = pathos Ø We must fight! = Short syntactically but convincing in argument Ø Concedes to weakness but refute with when are we getting any stronger? Now is the time to fight Pathos, masculine pride Ø Change in pronoun = shows peoples weakness, bandwagon fallacy Ø Diction multiple mentions of hope and slavery Ø Imagery war like preparations Ø Parallel structure if. if. (Bottom first page) and our petition has been slighted (top second page) Ø Syntax exclamation points Reading Speaker Occasion Declaration of Independence (4) Congress representing the American people Declaring independence from Britain in Congress when many educated people met to try and fix the government Prologue (5) Anne Bradstreet Personal Poetry Letters From and American Farmer (6) Hector DeCrevecoeur Revolution/Post Revolution Audience Britain No one Europeans Purpose To declare America free/separated from England Women are just as good at men at many things and shouldn t be Subject Tone Reasons why America should be separated from England, we will fight for freedom, kings grievances Defiant Assertive downgraded How women aren t worth anything (sarcasm) and how men are clearly superiors, except they aren t and they are too stuck up to know Sardonic Defiant Compare Europe and America define what an American is Exemplify mix of nation, plant metaphor and contributions to government Defiant Prideful

8 Critical Inflammatory Accusatory Ironic Patriotic Zealous v Paragraph Breakdown of Subject of Rhetorical Devices Ø 1 st paragraph overview: we should have a separation and here is why Metaphor dissolve the political bands, basically saying to separate Britain and America Ø 2 nd paragraph overview: men are equal; life liberty and happiness (John Locke ideas) we need to separate ourselves from that which makes us suffer (Hamilton ideas in the sentence, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive ) Repetition it is their right, it is their duty repetition also a bit of asyndeton shows the people have power not England Ø 2 nd paragraph overview: (list of king s grievances) basically all the bad things the king has done = why they want to be separated Anaphora words that come after that are important refused forbidden obstructed all have negative connotations on what the king has been doing, shows how awful and corrupt he is Ø 3 rd Paragraph overview: we have petitioned, we have done everything that we could, and we have been shunned, they will not recognize us Antithesis shows how we are victims Paradox Paradox prince, tyrant shows how they say they are one thing but are another and treat America horribly Anaphora exaggerate all that America has done as well as the negative results that they have received Chiasmus shows new relationship between England and America (last sentence) Ø 4 th paragraph overview: we therefore declare our independence because of all reasons stated above v Paragraph breakdown of subject and rhetorical devices Ø 3 rd line Metonymy/symbolism: "low" or "unimportant") pen.in this case, she doesn't mean that the actual pen she's using isn't any good. She's using it symbolically to represent her skill as a writer. A part of something to stand in for the whole Ø 7 th -8 th Lines

9 Allusion Guillaume du Bartas, was a French Protestant, by slipping in an allusion to Bartas, Bradstreet's speaker gives us a sense of her taste in poetry, and also lets us know that she's well read. Ø 9 th -10 th lines Allusion: Muses (mythological women who inspired the creation of art) had shared with her some of his supply of talent ("that over-fluent store"). Ø 13 th -14 th lines Metaphor Bradstreet gives us a few metaphors for her inferior skills as a poet. The basic idea in all of these comparisons is that you shouldn't expect something or someone to do more than it was made to do, so why should you expect her, a lowly woman, to write like a famous man? Ø 15 th line Analogy - physical beauty is an analogy for skill as a poet. Ø 16 th line Personification - "muse" as a personification of artistic inspiration. The speaker is giving human qualities (like foolishness, or the ability to sing) to an idea. Ø 17 th -18 th lines Personification - "Nature" or "Art," that's called personification. Ø 19 th -20 th lines Enjambment - sentence carries over across the line break Allusion/metaphor - classical Greece. The "sweet-tongued Greek" she's talking about is Demosthenes, a famous orator from ancient Athens. The story goes that he had a speech impediment as a boy, but overcame it with hard work and practice. We should point out that "sweet-tongued" is just a figure of speech, a metaphor for being a good talker. Ø 23 rd -24 th lines Alliteration: weak or wounded." Ø 25 th -26 th lines Speaker goes from worrying about her own shortcomings to going after her critics. Ø 33 rd -34 th line Allusion Greek muse Calliope

10 Personification - the personification of poetry (she uses the oldfashioned term "poesy"). Bradstreet's speaker turns an idea, "poetry," into a person by referring to it as a child. Ø 43 rd line Imagery/synecdoche - She starts out this stanza with a fancy move, calling male poets "high flown quills." This image plays on the fact that poets' pens were made out of bird feathers (quills). She combines that idea with synecdoche, by substituting a reference to a part of a thing (the feather) for the whole (the bird). Ø 44 th line Metaphor - of poet as bird Ø 47 th -48 th line Metaphor - to compare her own poetry to drab, "unrefined ore." Placed next to the art of men, she promises it will only make them look better, like glittering ("glistering") pure gold. Ø Alliteration - "glist'ring gold" v Paragraph breakdown of subject and rhetorical devices Ø 1 st paragraph overview: Europeans come here to have a country, people come for various reasons, we are plants Anadiplosis/personification a country? A country. Also the country does things, like having no bread for them. Shows how awful Europe is compared to America Rhetorical question had no country, now in America they do Metaphor plants to people who come to America, Europe had no good soil, but here in America we flourish, once again, America is so much better, used b/c he is a farmer Ø 2 nd paragraph overview: laws, now we have rights and are citizens Repetition and metaphor laws they do so many great things for the people now in America, juxtapose how in Europe they created problems, but now in America they are the solution, from having ranks to equality, huge difference Rhetorical questions some sarcastic, overall shows again how America is wonderful and all that it does Ø 3 rd paragraph overview: what America gives the immigrant (bread etc.) melting pot, what is means to be American Rhetorical questions same thing it always does, also compare and contrast American to European and what it means to be American

11 Ubi panis ibi patria where there is bread there is ones fatherland, this is what America is, it is in Latin because language is the ultimate unifier Anaphora (he) shows what an American is by repetition makes it more forceful and enthusiastic almost Metaphor fat and frolicking people, shows ideals, possibilities, and propaganda, juxtapose to Europe Overall defines quantifies what American is and juxtapose this to Europe Persona = American

What do these clips have in common?

What do these clips have in common? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=salmxkxr5k0 (Avatar) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlrrewji4so &feature=related (Pirates of the Caribbean) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlrrbs8jbqo