1. Unit Six Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

2.  Glossary  be worthy of  be worth doing = be worthy of being done / be worthy to be done  a worthwhile experiment / cause  It is worth while / worthwhile to consider / considering the matter.  a man of sentiment  sentiment of pity  sentiment of patriotism  give / propose a sentiment

3.  n. plea v. plead / beseech  entreaty entreat  supplication supplicate  imploration implore  valuable invaluable  estimable inestimable

4.  what kind of essay is it?  It is an argumentative essay.  How many parts can it be divided?  Four parts: Part 1 (para 1)  Part 2 (para2—4)  Part 3 (para5—7)  Part 4 (para 8)

5.  Part 1 (para 1)  But different men often see the same object in different lights ---- The same object may be observed and judged from different perspectives by different people.  I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining, as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reservation.. (T)

6.  This is no time for ceremony. The question before the house is one of awful moment to this country.---- No time should be wasted on ceremonial procedures because the house, at present, is encountering an extremely crucial problem for the nation.  nothing less than ---- the very same thing as  It is nothing less than madness.  in proportion to ---- appropriately in agreement with / in relation to

7.  Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.---- If I should remain silent at such a critical time, for fear of offending others, I should consider myself to be a man who has betrayed his own country and who has committed a sin of betraying God, whom I respect more deeply than all kings on Earth.  ** The speaker first expresses his viewpoint opposite to the gentlemen. Next he refers to the question before the house as one of freedom or slavery. Then, he mentions the motive for the expression of his opinions.

8.  Part 2 (para2—4)  Para. 2  It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. (T)  We are apt to shut out eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. ---- We tend to close our eyes when facing a painful truth, and listen to the song of the sea nymph until she changes us into animals.

9.  be disposed to v. ---- be prepared to do sth.  their temporal salvation ---- salvation of their reality / their life and destiny  For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I’m willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst and to provide for it. ---- As for me, I’m willing to know the whole truth and be prepared for the worst that might happen, no matter how much pain I may endure.

10.  Para. 3  I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.---- Experience like a lamp that lights up my way forward.  I know of no way… I wish to know… and the house? (T)  Insidious smile (T)  It will prove a snare to your feet.---- The cunning smile, with which the British recently received our petition, will be a trap for you to fall into.  Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. ---- Do not allow yourselves to be betrayed by sb. who kisses you to show affection.

11.  comport with ---- agree with / be in harmony with / be consistent with  a work of love (T)  Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? (T)  be reconciled (T)  These are the implements of war and subjugation——the last arguments to which kings resort. ---- These are the tools for war and suppression, the last means kings will make use of when all arguments fall flat. (complete failure)

12.  Para 4  this martial array ---- armed forces in battle order / this impressive demonstration of armed forces  They are meant for us: they can be meant for no others. (T)  ** The second part dramatically presents the real situation American is faced with. The speaker urges the gentlemen to admit the reality and advises them not to deceive themselves. He indirectly mentions what the British Ministry has done for the last ten years and clearly conveys his view about the dangerous situation. He intends to disillusion the house of gentlemen to open their eyes to the cruel reality.

13. PPart 3 (para.5—7)  Para. 5  We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable. ---- We have considered and tried every means in order to deal with the subject.  hold up (T)  in every light (T)

14.  Para.6  We have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.---- We have been humble and submissive in front of the British King, and have begged his Majesty to intervene and stop the cruelty and injustice of the British colonial ministry and Parliament e have been spurned with contempt from the foot of the throne! ---- The throne rejected our petitions and supplications scornfully and contemptuously.

15.  In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. ---- Since all our previous efforts proved futile, our fondly cherished hope of arriving at a peaceful settlement and reconciling with British may never come true.  preserve inviolate those… / keep those … alive / keep … from injury (T)  An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us! ---- A resort to arms and an earnest request for God’s help is the only thing that we can do!

16.  Para.7  Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? ---- Shall we become strong and powerful by hesitating and taking no action at all.  hugging the delusive phantom of hope ---- by cherishing the false illusion of hope.  hath placed in our power ---- has given us at our disposal  Three millions of people armed in the holy cause of liberty ---- Three millions of people, with liberty as our ultimate aim to fight for.

17.  The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone ； it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. ---- The victory of the battle is determined not just by strength but by vigilance, activeness, and courage.  There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. (T)  ** In this part, the orator first eloquently drives it home that it is pointless to further argue  about the subject and to continue to resort to entreaty and humble supplication, that it is futile to entertain the fond hope of peace and reconciliation, and that Americans must appeal to arms and fight for freedom. Next, the speaker argues against the misconception that America is weak——unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. Then, he argues for his firm belief that America is bound to win.

18.  Part 4 (para.8)  It is in vain to extenuate the matter. ---- It is useless to underestimate the severity of the situation.  Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? ---- Is life so precious and valuable, or peace so charming and gratifying that in order to live in peace we have to be bound hand and foot and reduced to slavery?  (rhetorical question)  Meaning: Though life is precious, and peace enjoyable, they must by no means be obtained at the sacrifice of freedom.

19.  as for me, give me liberty or give me death!---- as far as I’m concerned, if not given freedom, I would rather die!  ** The last paragraph impressively describes the urgent situation and declares the orator’s attitude towards life and freedom. It calls on people to fight heroically for freedom.

20. EExercises  Answer questions 11. They expect Patrick Henry to express in the strongest and most explicit terms his opinions on the nation’s choice between freedom and slavery, which are very different from those expressed by some previous speakers. 22. Lamp metaphorically refers to one’s experience that guides one’s course of action. The past conduct of the British ministry has proved itself untrustworthy. The recent reception of our petition will prove a snare to mislead us. As a matter of fact, the British are preparing war against us. We must call in our own forces to fight back. This is what the lamp guides us to do.

21. 33. Great Britain does this for war against the Americans in an attempt to subdue them. 44. He thinks that their petitions have been treated rudely, their remonstrations have brought about more violence and insult, and that their solicitations have been disregarded. After they have done all that can be done, there is no longer any possibility for hope of peace and reconciliation. 55. They have done all they should do to prevent the coming war, but in vain. If they wish to be free, if they mean to preserve those inestimable rights of national independence and dignity, they must fight heroically.

22. 66. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. The clanging of the chains may be heard. War has actually begun. If they are unwilling to be subdued and enslaved, they must get ready for a war against the British colonists. 77. Sweet as peace, dear as life might be, he will give both up providing they should be won at the sacrifice of dignity and liberty. 88. The speech is filled with patriotic passion and urgency, severe criticism, and appealing sensation.

23.  Explain sentences  1. The same object may be observed and judged from different perspectives by different people.  2. No time should be wasted on ceremonial procedures because the house, at present, is encountering an extremely crucial problem for the nation.  3. We tend to close our eyes when facing a painful truth and listen to the song of the sea nymph until she changes us into animals.  4. As for me, I’m willing to know the whole truth and be prepared for the worst that might happen, no matter how much pain I may endure.

24.  5. The cunning smile, with which the British recently received our petition, will be a trap for you to fall into.  6. These are the tools for war and suppression, the last means kings will turn to all arguments fall flat.  7. We have been humble and submissive in front of the British king, and have begged his Majesty to intervene and stop the cruelty and injustice of the British colonial ministry and Parliament.  8. The victory of the battle is determined not just by strength, but by vigilance, activeness and courage.  9. It is useless to underestimate the severity of the situation.

25.  Writing strategies  (4) rhetorical devices:  Metonymy: Para1, L6 before the house  Para1, L12 the Majesty of Heaven  Metaphor: Para3, L1 one lamp by which  Para3, L5 It will prove a snare to your feet.  Para4, L5 to bind and rivet…so long forging  Para6, L1 to avert the storm…coming on.  Para8, L12 The next gale…from the north.  Rhetorical question;  Parallelism  Repetition.

26. SSentence translation C--E 11. If you look at this painting in a different light, you’d feel much better about it. 22. The guest speaker will address the students on the importance of harmony in our society.. 33. The intensity of work leaves little room for personal grief and pleasure. 44. The inviolate learner-centered teaching is to let students speak out in class freely and without reserve.

27.  5. It is equally important to bind and rivet onto teachers a sense of humor which is not beseeched but instead comes out naturally.  6. All attempts and overtures to woo him back have been spurned with contempt.  7. He is generously disposed to admit the validity of opposing views rather than consider reconciliation.  8. He seems to advise us not to hug the delusive phantom of hope for a native-like foreign language ability.

28.  Translate a passage C—E  Dear Students of the Graduating Class  As you are leaving your alma mater, I have nothing to offer you as a gift except a word of advice.  My advice is, “Never give up the pursuit of learning.” You have perhaps finished your college courses mostly for obtaining the diploma, or, in other words, out of sheer necessity. However, from now on you are free to follow your own bent in the choice of studies. While you are in the prime of life, why not devote yourselves to a special field of study? Youth will soon be gone, never return. And it will be too late for you to go into scholarship when in your declining years. Knowledge will do you a good turn even as a means of subsistence. If you give up studies while holding a job, you will in a couple of years have had yourselves replaced by younger people. It will then be too late to remedy the situation by picking up studies again.

29.  Topics for discussion  1. This may remind you of a series of wars: the Great Chinese War of Resistance against Japanese Invaders, the Korean War in the 1950s, the war between the U.S. and Vietnam in the 1960s,etc.  2. The U.S. is now seeking to establish global hegemony. You may analyze its intention and consequences, based on the hostility it has aroused throughout the world.

30.  Some Events in American History  1776. 7. 4. the Declaration of Independence  1775---1783 the War of Independence / the American Revolution  1861---1865 the War between the States / the American Civil War  1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in the southern states of the U.S.