Speech

Obviously, we know this is a speech because it was delivered orally by Patrick Henry to the Second Virginia Convention on March 23rd, 1775. (Plus, you know, it appears on so many "Greatest Speeches Ever" lists.)

But Henry was a classically trained speaker, meaning he had been taught to structure his work according to the rhetorical traditions of Ancient Greece and Rome. His listeners, most of them also trained in this way, would have expected nothing less. Classical rhetoric included as many as seven parts, but not all speeches include all parts.

So let's check out the parts of Henry's speech.

How it Breaks Down

Exordium (or Introduction) (Sentences 1-7)

Henry addresses the President of the Convention and states that he's going to put forth some arguments about why he disagrees with some members on some important points. He says he feels it's his duty.

Narration (A Story About How We Got To This Point) (Sentences 8-41)

Henry summarizes the history of the past decade, describing how every effort at diplomacy has failed and how Great Britain has imposed a military occupation on the American colonies. He says that all attempts at reconciliation have come to nothing.

Proof (What I'm Trying to Prove) (Sentences 42-46)

Armed resistance is the only course left if we want to maintain our freedom and honor, dagnabbit.

Refutation (Why My Opponents Are Wrong) (Sentences 47-64)

Henry talks back to those who say the colonies are too weak to take on Great Britain. He ends with a classic "Come at me, bro!"

Peroration (Or Just the Conclusion, If You're Not Feeling Fancy) (Sentences 65-75)

The conclusion is meant to provoke a powerful emotional response in listeners that leads them to take decisive action. Henry says that other people are already fighting. Why aren't we? That final, famous, go-down-in-history sound bite wraps up his argument: he's willing to die for liberty.