A Rhetorical Analysis of Washingtons Farewell Address

Today you will be analyzing Washingtons use of rhetoric in his farewell address and evaluating
its effectiveness as compared to another politician of the Revolutionary time period, Patrick
Henry.
Your analysis of Washingtons difficult text will be guided by the following questions.
Analysis 1
The founding fathers were educated in the Greek and Roman classics; therefore, it makes sense
that classical forms of rhetoric would be infused in their speeches. Two founding fathers assisted
Washington with the writing of his address: Alexander Hamilton and James Monroe. Both
received classical educationsHamilton at Kings College (now Columbia) and Monroe at the
College of New Jersey (now Princeton).
One ancient rhetorical form is the apologia. Apologia is a specific genre in which an orator
defends himself or his actions against accusation.

What accusation does Washington defend himself against, in advance of it being made, in
the opening paragraphs of the address?
What specific quote best illustrates the apologia?
By making this apology in advance, what does Washington preclude the congress from
doing had it decided to do so?
By placing this apologia at the opening, how does Washington hope to give the remarks
that follow greater ethos? (Ethos establishes the speakers character or why the speaker
is qualified to speak on the subject) Focus especially on paragraph 7 in your analysis.
What would the effect be of placing the opening apologia last rather than at the
beginning? How would his readers and listeners felt about the main points of the speech
if he had ended with it rather than ended with his discussion of the nations neutrality?
(Need a hint: he would have ended on a personal note rather than ending on a logical
note.)
Later in the address, specifically paragraphs 32 and onward, what policy of Washingtons
does he also offer an apology for?
What specific action of his administration does Washington defend?
In real life when we hear someone defend him or herself, we find it easier to listen to the
person and evaluate his or her reasoning if the speaker is deferential and somewhat
humble rather than boastful and arrogant. Find evidence in the early paragraphs that
Washington adopts a deferential and humble tone. Provide two quoted statements that
illustrate his tone, and within the statements underline key words or phrases that exhibit
his tone.

Analysis 2
Prior to completing this rhetorical analysis, you need to read Patrick Henrys famous Speech to
the Second Virginia Convention in 1775. Many of you will recognize it as the Give me liberty or
give me death speech.
The exercise derives many of its terms and ideas from the essay The Rhetoric of Washingtons Farewell
Address by Halford Ryan in Speaker and Gavel, 2001. http://www.mnsu.edu/cmst/dsrtka/speakerandgavel.htm

In an essay analyzing Washingtons rhetoric (see footnote below), Halford Ryan writes, The
ability to coin a metaphor has always been prized in oratory, for metaphors invite audiences to
perceive new relationships and to attribute to the speaker a sharp intellect (9).

In paragraph 25 what does Washington liken political parties to?

Why is the metaphor a particularly apt one given the type of discourse or language
usually employed by partisan political parties?

Pathos is another rhetorical device in which the orator appeals to and plays upon the
emotions of his audience. By what metaphor in paragraph 32 does Washington make an
emotional appeal? (Quote the text)
Why would this appeal have been immediately understandable to the white audience of
Washingtons address?
Where in his famous speech does Patrick Henry, writing 18 years earlier, first utilize the
same metaphor? (Quote the text and paragraph)
Looking at both metaphors, whose is more effective and why? (In your analysis consider
elements such as diction and syntax)

Analysis 3
Washington and Henry have very different styles. Building upon your analysis of their use of
metaphor in the previous section, write a paragraph that describes the essential stylistic
differences in the two pieces. Focus especially on diction and syntax in your analysis and
provide brief examples from each to support your description.

Ryan described Washingtons oratory style in this way: Washington was not a dynamic
speaker. He was aware of his shortcomings and did not like to speak in public. His voice
was characterized as undistinguished, he spoke slowly, and he seldom gesticulated for
force or emphasis and when he did, his gestures were awkward and stiff (3-4). How is
Washingtons style reflective of his personality?
Washington never delivered his address publically. Rather, it was disseminated in print
through the various newspapers of the day. How is his style indicative of the format?
Patrick Henry was a delegate to the convention and considered to be the voice of the
revolution when he delivered his speech. Washington was ending his second term as the
first president of the nation. Explain how the offices of the two men and their different
purposes are reflected in their different styles.

Analysis 4
Washington makes use of rhetorical questions throughout his address. Ryan defines the
rhetorical question as, A
rhetorical question is a question so phrased that it elicits from the audience the desired
response, which may be vocal or quiet assent to oneself (9).

Locate two instances where Washington makes use of a rhetorical question.

For each, explain what idea or response Washington intended for the question to elicit
from his audience.

The exercise derives many of its terms and ideas from the essay The Rhetoric of Washingtons Farewell
Address by Halford Ryan in Speaker and Gavel, 2001. http://www.mnsu.edu/cmst/dsrtka/speakerandgavel.htm

In addition, although often associated with poetry, to give forcefulness to their ideas orators
often employ alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds. Scan the
following paragraphs for examples of Washingtons alliteration. (Actually, both examples are
Hamiltons. Remember, he was a ghost writer for the address).
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 19
Finally, another rhetorical device used for emphasis is the Tricola. Tricola is the placing of
phrases, clauses, words, in a unit of threes. Scan the following paragraphs for evidence of
Washingtons use of Tricola.
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 45
Analysis 5
The order in which an orator presents his or her arguments can have an impact on how those
arguments are received. You have already examined this principle in the first analysis.
Make an argument for why Washington felt it necessary to place the central ideas of
paragraph 9 and 10 before paragraph 15.

The exercise derives many of its terms and ideas from the essay The Rhetoric of Washingtons Farewell
Address by Halford Ryan in Speaker and Gavel, 2001. http://www.mnsu.edu/cmst/dsrtka/speakerandgavel.htm