Assertion #9

        The general assertion being made by Winthorp is to prevent failure by striving to always do the best. To prevent failure is to prevent shame. His speech is like that of a pep talk but with a hint of fear. "We shall...cause their prayers to be turned into curses." The audience are Puritans and they are traveling by boat from Europe to America and during the trip was when Winthorp delivers his speech. This was written at time around Shakespeare hence the complex and old fashioned diction.

        To support his assertion, the author uses rhetorical devices diction, simile, comparison and imagery. Diction plays a big part in giving the reader the setting of the time this speech was written; the diction is old fashioned and proper, not grammar-wise however. There is a simile present within the first line, "...we must Consider that we shall be as a City upon a Hill.". The comparison is made within that first line as well. Imagery is abundant throughout the text, "we shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil ways of god" Furthermore, the author's purpose behind this speech is that he and and the Puritans have been given a second chance, moving from Europe to America, we wants them to do best and give their all so that they may not fall back to their shame like in Europe.