FAMOUS SPEECHES

What is Demosthenes saying about the people of Athens as they are under attack from an invading army?

• They are not brave warriors.

• They take their victory for granted

• Team work makes the dream work

• They are too lazy.

Demosthenes (384-322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by studying the speeches of previous great orators. 

What is the meaning of rhetoric?

• persuasive speech

• epideictic speech or writing

• phonaesthetics

• law-making

You have not been vanquished; you have never even stirred.

This line is an example of litotes, or understatement with a negation. It also uses anaphora, or repetition to---

• emphasize their bravery in battle

• suggest they are too lazy to fight

• build up their spirits in a time of fear

• suggest new tactics for defense of the city

What kind of logical structure does Demosthenes use in this speech?

• chronological order

• specific to general

• patterns (and reversals)

• cause and effect

Based on this passage, Demosthenes' speeches were likely---

• eloquent

• tongue-tied

• ad-libbed

• inaudible

What does this passage suggest about the importance of practice?

• People have celebrated Demosthenes natural talent for thousands of years.

• Demosthenes was not a born orator, but he became one with work.

• Demosthenes prefer to extemporize over preparation.

• Demosthenes was often tongue-tied. However, he was courageous, so people put up with his rudimentary attempts at speech.

What evidence does this passage give to suggest the idea that Demosthenes worked diligently to become a better speaker?

• It says he was passionate.

• The passage describes his habits of trying to speak over the sound of waves or with pebbles in his mouth.

• The passage states that he was a successful orator, or speaker.

• The passage describes his talent for speech as a gift, something he was born with.

Speaking about a difficult subject, the life of prisoners, Angela Davis exhibits great---

• extemporization

• inaudibility

• poise

• rancor

According to this passage, conditions in prison _______________ conditions in society.

• contradict

• reflect

• cause

• solve

What word in the passage redefines prisons in a more negative way?

• conditions

• society

• dungeons

• sickness