Winston Churchill's big speech!

Winston Churchill's inspirational speech!

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Vol XCIII, No. 311

Throwback to May 13th, 1940

Background information about the speech

"Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat"

A rhetorical analysis by Victoria Muhawesh

• It was a call-to-arms speech written in the first person point of view.
• It was delivered on May 13th, 1940.
• Churchill was addressing the House of Commons, but the speech was later broadcasted to the whole of Britain.
• Purpose: To inspire and instill determination into the people to be prepared to wage war and fight against Hitler's Germany which was conquering many European countries (leading up to the beginning of World War II).
• Themes: Nationalism, Hope for the building up of a better and victorious nation.

Who was Winston Churchill?

Diction and Language

• One of the "greatest wartime leaders" of all time.
• A British politician, historian, artist, and writer, who also served as an officer in the British Army.
• He was from an aristocratic family.
• He was appointed twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the first being in 1940 after Neville Chamberlain –who recommended Churchill to King George VI– resigned.
• During his first term as Prime Minister, Winston Churchill delivered the very inspirational speech "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat".

• It is formal speech as he was addressing the House of Commons.
• He used emotional and strong language to motivate and persuade the audience such as his usage of the synonyms "rigor" and "urgency" for the emphasis of how urgent that time period was.
• He also used the synonyms "struggle" and "suffering" to inform the audience that it would be difficult, tiring and long-lasting, but in the end, would be worth it.

• He also did not sugarcoat the situation which creates a sense of trust between him and the audience.

"Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat"

Setting the tone and mood

For there is no survival without victory

• Winston paraphrased and popularized the idiom and strong metaphor "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat".
• Coined by many known figures in the past such as Theodore Roosevelt and Giuseppe Garibaldi.
• This added to the emotional and bold feelings of the speech and ensured the audience that he would fight with all his might and put every last ounce of effort into Britain and the battle he foresaw.

All the words he used set the mood and tone of the speech which is determination, drive and hope for the victory of Britain (against Germany) and the better future of Britain's nation under the will of God (His reference to God gives the audience a sense of security, faith and hope).

Contrasts and Rhythm

Churchill emphasized that there needed to be unity for success, and that there would be "no survival" for Britain if there was not "victory" however much it may cost; which is a contrast he repeated often.

• He created a rhythm by his usage of alliteration ("wage war" and "but blood") and rhetorical questions ("What is our policy?"/" What is our aim?")
• He also used a few hyperbolic sentences.

Personal Conclusion:

He was right to deliver the speech in order to inform and motivate his audience of an upcoming war that would either destroy or triumph Britain. Overall, I think he did an incredible job, especially with it being his first public speech, presenting his purpose and tapping into emotions in such a way that would make anyone who read his speech animated, convinced and hooked completely.

All of this makes the audience think and acknowledge the only answer he thought available: War.