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WorksheetsFAMOUS SPEECHES
Total questions: 5
Worksheet time: 29mins
Demosthenes, excerpt from the Third Philippic, 341 BCE
This was the third speech he gave devoted to convincing his fellow Athenians to take up arms against the invading forces of Phillip of Macedon.
“You are in your present plight because you do not do any part of your duty, small or great; for if you were doing all that you should do, and were still in this evil situation, you could not even hope for any improvement. As it is, Philip has conquered your indolence and your indifference; but he has not conquered Athens. You have not been vanquished; you have never even stirred.
Indolence=laziness; indifference=lack of care
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
Demosthenes learned the art of persuasive speech by studying the speeches of successful orators. He wasn't born an articulate, impassioned speaker, but he became one over time. His famous ways of improving his speech included talking with pebbles in his mouth and reciting verses while running. To strengthen his voice, he spoke on the seashore over the roar of the waves.
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
It has been said many times that one can learn a great deal about a society by looking towards its prisons. Look towards its dungeons and there you will see in concentrated and microcosmic form the sickness of the entire system. And today there is something that is particularly revealing about the analogy between the prison and the larger society of which it is a reflection.
Angela Davis, "The Gates of Freedom"
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
Illustrate the meaning of this speech.
As it is, Philip has conquered your indolence and your indifference; but he has not conquered Athens. You have not been vanquished; you have never even stirred.
