‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’- A Rhetorical Analysis

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‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’- A Rhetorical Analysis

I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

–Sir Winston Churchill, ‘

We Shall Fight on the Beaches’.

Sir Winston Churchill’s speech, ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ was a wonderful piece of moving rhetoric. The diction that Churchill uses to deliver his message is not so advanced that one cannot understand him easily, but still manages to portray a sense of Churchill’s deeply intellectual status without being condescending. It is a very inspirational piece, a moving speech, and a powerful call to action aimed to uplift the downtrodden population of Britain at the time. Churchill responded to the need for inspiration with his now-famous speech. His use of rhetoric not only inspired Britain, but was a powerful tool that brought about a final victory over the Nazis.

In order to fully comprehend the reasons for Churchill’s speech and the vast response of relief from the population, one must understand the events leading up to its giving. On June 4

th, 1940, Europe was a very large battleground. The Nazi party of Germany had declared war on France and Britain, and was spreading throughout the continent like wildfire. They appeared to

be unstoppable. Earlier that year, the King of Belgium had called to the Allies for aid in protecting his country. Britain and France had complied, both sending large forces to defend Belgium from German capture. Their forces pressed forward to stop the German a...

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...t orator and rhetor, his ability to integrate emotion into fact and still have facts exist as true and unbiased. As a result of the heavy factual details, his logos in this speech was excellent.

By examining Churchill’s use of rhetoric we can see what exactly made him such a great leader. His speeches were able to do more damage to the Nazis than any bomb could have done because his language rallied the people together. His use of repetition proved his points and reminded the country of what mattered most. His descriptive words helped build up anger against the Nazi rule and persuade everyone to pull through the tough times. He used pronouns in such a way that it would personalize everything and help unify his country. Through his unique use of words Churchill was able to convince many that if they could just endure that they would at last be victorious (Bungay).

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