Unit 6 Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

1. Unit 6 Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

2. Detailed Study of Para 1 • Why does the speaker think that he should express his opinions boldly? To the speaker, America is at a critical juncture, and he thinks he is duty-bound to save his motherland and that he should be faithful to God. Should he hold back his opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, he should consider himself as guilty of treason toward his country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heave, which he reveres above all earthly kings.

3. Language Work • address ν t. to make a speech to a person or an audience, esp. formally • E.g.(1) The chairman will now address the meeting. (2) The President is now addressing the nation. house n. a group of people who meet to discuss or pass laws e.g.(1) In this speech, the house refers to the House of Burgesses, the representative assembly of colonial Virginia. And here, the house is used as a case of metonymy. See more examples below.

4. No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. • No man admires more than I do the patriotism and abilities of the noble gentlemen who have just delivered speeches to the house.

5. sentiments n. points of view, opinions; an attitude or opinion usually influenced by emotion e.g.(1)What are your sentiments on this issue? (2)She made a speech full of lofty sentiments. entertain vt. to hold sth. in the mind or feelings e.g.(1)She entertains some doubts about our scheme. (2)They entertain prejudices against us.

6. The question before the house is one of awful moment to this country. • The question thehouse is faced with is an issue of vital importance to this country. • And in proportion to the magnitude of the subject... • in relation to the importance of thesubject / / in relation to the significance of the topic

7. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. • Only in this way can we hope to reach the truth and perform the great commitment for which we are responsible for the sake of God and our country.

8. magnitude n. a large size e.g.(1) The magnitude of the epidemic was unexpectedly frightening. (2) You don't seem to appreciate the magnitude of her achievement. • treason n. treachery to one's country; a treacherous act, i.e., an act of betraying one's country e.g.(1)The traitor committed treason during the Anti-Japanese War. (2) The patriot would rather die than commit an offence of treason.

9. Should I hold back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as 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 withhold my opinions at such a moment for fear of causing offence, I should think myself a traitor who has committed a treachery to my country and who is a sinner of disloyalty toward God, whom I respect more profoundly than 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 venerate more deeply than all kings on Earth.

10. Detailed Study of Paras 2-4 • (1) According to the speaker, what should the wise gentlemen do? • The wise men should neither shut their eyes against a painful truth nor listen to the song of that siren till she transforms them into beasts. They ought to see and hear the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation. Whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, the wise men should bewilling to know the whole truth, to know the worst and to provide for it.

11. (2) What is the actual situation America is confronted with? • America is confronted with warlike preparations, which cover their waters and darken their land. British fleets and armies are in battle array, ready to overwhelm theAmericans. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon them those chains which the British ministry has been so long forging.

12. Language Work • illusion n.a false idea, belief or impression; false perception e.g.(1) I have no illusions about my ability. (= I know that I am not able at all.) (2) In the hot sun the surface of the road seems wet, but that is only an illusion. (3) I was under the illusion that he was honest.

13. Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. • Mr. President, it is quite normal that man should allow himself to entertain delusive or false hopes.//I It is in agreement with human nature that man should take pleasure in cherishing fond illusive hopes.

14. be apt to do sth.: to be likely or have a tendency to do sth. e.g.(1) She is apt to be forgetful, careless, and quick-tempered. (2) My pen is rather apt to leak. • siren n. (in Greek mythology) one of a number of winged women whose songs lured sailors to their destruction; woman regarded as fascinating and dangerous e.g.(1) This sentence is actually an allusion to Homer's Odyssey, in which the enchantress Circe charms men with her song and turns them into swine.

15. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. • We tend to turn a blind eye to a painful reality, and listen to the song of that sea nymph until she changes us completely into beasts.

16. be disposed to: to want or be prepared to do sth. e.g.(1) I am not disposed to meet them at the moment. (2) You are most welcome to join us if you feel so disposed. • their temporal salvation: salvation of their reality; salvation of their life and destiny • temporal: relating to practical matters or material things; earthly, worldly e.g.(1) Temporal power and wealth are more important to some people than a spiritual promise of life after death.

17. Are we disposed to be of the number of those who having eyes see not, and having ears hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? • Do we want to be among those who pretend neither to see nor to hear the things that are concerned with the salvation of their own reality? II Are we prepared to be among those who turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the things that are so closely related to the salvation of their own destiny?

18. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. • I have only one lamp that guides my way forward, and that lamp is none other than that of experience.! // Experience is like a lamp that guides my way forward. • I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. As far as I know, there is no way to judge the future except by the past. // In my opinion, there is no means of judging the future except by history.

19. solace vt. to comfort or relieve from pain, distress, trouble, etc.; give comfort or relief e.g.(1) She was distracted with grief and refused to be solaced. (2) The mayor's words solaced the grief-stricken widow. • snare n. a trap for catching small animals and birds, esp. one with a noose made of rope or wire; (fig.) sth. that is apt to trap or injure sb. e.g.(1) The rabbit's foot was caught in a snare. (2) Pride is a snare we must all try to avoid.

20. Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Do not believe in it, sir; it may turn out to be something that will trap your feet and make you fall. • Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Do not allow yourself to be betrayed by somebody who kisses you to show affection.

21. suffer vt. to allow (By the way, this usage is rare now!) e.g.(1) He knew that he must not suffer selfishness to triumph over love. (2) He is a man that never suffer interference with his plans. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Do not allow yourself to be betrayed by somebody who kisses you to show affection.This sentence refers to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. According to Luke 22:47-48, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss.

22. gracious adj. kind, polite and generous, esp. to sb. who is socially inferior; (of God) merciful e.g.(1) The gracious hostess demonstrated her ability to provide abundant meals in dignified surroundings. (2)God is kind and gracious to all sinners who repent. • petition n. a formal written request, esp. one signed by many people appealing to sb. in authority; a formal written application submitted to a court of law.

23. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike prep a- rations which cover our waters and darken our land. • Imagine how this kind and polite reception of our petition agrees with those military preparations that are extending over our seas and threatening the security of our land.// Think for yourselves, and you will see clearly that, though receiving our petition courteously, the British are actually making military preparations, their fleets being active all over our waters and their troops with weapons and machines darkening our land. As a matter of fact, they do not mean what they say. They are going to attack and conquer us.

24. be reconciled to: (cause to) become friendly again, e.g. after quarrelling; (cause to) accept reluctantly sth. unwelcome or unpleasant e.g.(1)We were finally reconciled when he apologized. (2)They are not reconciled to failure. • submission n. a willingness to yield or surrender to sb., or the act of doing so e.g.(1) The enemy wanted to starve the city into submission. (2) Some parents want their children to show complete submission to their wishes.

25. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation - the last arguments to which kings resort. • Does a work of love and reconciliation call for fleets and armies? Have we proved so reluctant to become friends again that force must be used to retrieve our love? Let us not mislead ourselves, sir. These are the tools of war and instruments of subjugation - the last arguments which kings make use of.

26. rivetvt. to fasten with a short metal fastener; fix, make immobile e.g.(1) The two boards are riveted together. (2) We stood riveted to the spot. • forgevt. to shape sth. by heating it in a fire and hammering; create by means of hard work They forge swords, chains, anchors, etc. e.g.They have forged an alliance.

27. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. • These navies and armies are here to subdue and conquer us; it is impossible that they are prepared for any other. They are dispatched to tie us up and immobilize us with those chains that the British ministry have been so long making.

28. Detailed Study of Paras 5-7 • ( 1 ) What is the main idea of Paragraph 6? The writer illustrates clearly that everything that could be done has been done in order to avert the fast approaching war. He advises the gentlemen to abandon their fond hope of peace and reconciliation. He urges the American people to fight for freedom with great determination.

29. (2) Why does the orator hold the view that America is strong enough to cope with so formidable an adversary? • For the following reasons: The Americans are not weak if they make proper use of those means which the God of nature has placed in their power. Three million people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which they possess, are invincible by any force which their enemy can send against them. Besides, they will not fight their battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations and who will raise up friends to fight their battles for them. The battle is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.

30. Language Work • We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. • We have approached the subject from all perspectives possible; but all our efforts have been utterly futile. • Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? That terms shall we find which have not already been exhausted? • Shall we rely on earnest requesting and humble supplicating? What words and expressions shall we find that have not already been used?

31. inviolate adj. free from violation, injury, or outrage; undisturbed, untouched; unbroken e.g.(1) We must preserve these sacred principles inviolate. (2) Our promise remains inviolate. • contend ν . to struggle in opposition; compete, vie; assert or maintain earnestly e.g.(1) Our fighters contended with the enemy for control of the fort. (2) That excellent student is contending for the first prize.

32. If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained - we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

33. If we desire to enjoy freedom, if we intend to permanently keep alive those invaluable privileges for which we have been fighting hard for such a long time, if we are disposed not basely to give up the sacred struggle to which we have so long devoted ourselves, and which we have bound ourselves by a solemn vow never to abandon until the splendid goal of our struggle is reached - we must fight! I say it again, sir, we must fight! A resort to arms and an earnest request for God's help is the only thing that we can do!

34. supinely ad, lying on the back with the face upward; showing a weak unwillingness to act e.g.(1) The little boy is lying supinely on the bed, staring at the ceiling. (2) He accepted the unfair treatment supinely. • phantom n. a ghost, ghostly image; unreal or imagined thing, as seen in a dream or vision e.g.(1) He said that he saw the phantom of his dead father. (2) It is harmful to hug delusive phantoms.

35. Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? • Shall we become strong or powerful by hesitating and taking no action at all? Shall we obtain the resources (e.g. human power, military weapons, etc.) of successful resistance by lying weakly and lazily on our backs, and by cherishing the false illusion of hope until our enemies have riveted chains on us?

36. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. • There is a righteous God who controls the fates of nations and who will gather friends to join us in our battles and fight for us.

37. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. --- victory of the battle, sir, does not belong to the strong alone; it belongs to the vigilant, the active, the brave. The first half of the sentence "The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone" is part of a quotation from Ecclesiastes 9:11, "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong."

38. Detailed Study of Para 8 (1) What is the main idea of the last part? This part makes it quite clear that there is no longer any possibility for peace, the war has actually begun, and that Americans must take action immediately and fight for freedom. (2) What does the last sentence tell us? The last sentence declares the speaker's attitude toward life and freedom and meanwhile calls on people to fight for freedom.

39. extenuate vt. to diminish the seriousness of e.g.(1)Nothing can extenuate such appalling behavior. clash n. a loud metallic sound The music ended with a clash of cymbals. The clash of swords woke me up in the early hours of the day. resound vi. to produce a long reverberating sound e.g.(1) The church bells resounded throughout the small town. (2) Happy voices resounded in the streets.

40. It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace, peace"---but there is no peace. • It is futile, sir, to make the situation less serious. Although gentlemen may keep shouting, "Peace, peace", there is no longer peace. • The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! • The strong wind that is fast approaching from the north will bring us the great news of open resistance.

41. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! • I do not know what way of acting others may take, but as far as I am concerned, if not given freedom, I would rather die! • 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 peacewe have to be bound hand and foot and reduced to slavery?