Question

Question 7 of 18

Read the following excerpt from a 1775 speech by Patrick Henry in which he
presents his ideas concerning the American colonists* relationship with Great
Britain:
Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the
last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the
subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every
light of which it is capable; but has all been in vain. Shall
we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What
terms shall we find which have not already been
exhausted?
Which best explains the purpose of the rhetorical device used in this excerpt?
• A. The strong appeal to ethos leads the audience to trust and agree
with the speaker.
B. The use of parallelism draws attention to the many peaceful steps
the colonists have taken.
C. The repetition of the words "sir* and "throne* emphasize the point
that the colonists are subordinate to Great Britain.
D
The metaphor of a storm to represent the monarchy impligs that it
is powerful and unpredictable.

Answer 1

The purpose of the rhetorical device used in this excerpt is to convey the speaker's frustration and exhaustion with the unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issues between the American colonists and Great Britain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the rhetorical device used in this excerpt is to convey the speaker's frustration and exhaustion with the unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issues between the American colonists and Great Britain. The speaker, Patrick Henry, presents his ideas by using rhetorical questions and emphasizing that all possible approaches have been exhausted. He questions whether argument, entreaty, or supplication could bring about any new solutions or terms that have not already been tried.