Text: Building skills in English 11–14
6 War speeches
Wars have inspired some famous speeches. Speeches – including
You are learning: war speeches – can have many purposes. Here are some of those
• about the persuasive purposes with examples.
techniques used in
speech-writing. Purpose Example
To inform A teacher giving a talk in assembly about his trip to the
Himalayas during the school holiday.
To explain A teacher explaining to the class how a piece of science
apparatus works.
To entertain A stand-up comedian telling an amusing story.
To persuade A charity worker trying to talk someone into making a
regular donation.
Activity 1
1 Read extracts A–D, which are all bits of speeches. Each speech has a
different main purpose – either to inform, explain, entertain or persuade.
A B
Well, you’ll never believe it but the third Some say we should do a deal with Hitler.
new soldier who arrived in our dug-out was I say you can’t deal with a cheat. Some
carrying a gold-plated cigarette lighter. ‘What say we should let him have Europe. I
do you want that for?’ the sergeant asked him. say we are part of Europe. Some say we
‘It’s my lucky charm,’ the new soldier replied. cannot beat him. I say we must.
C
I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street. This
morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German government
a final note stating that, unless we heard from them by 11 o’clock that they
were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war
would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has
been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.
D
War is when two or more opposing groups
fight each other over a long period of time.
These groups are usually different countries, 2 Write down the letter of each
but that is not always the case. In many parts
speech (A, B, C or D) and say
of the world civil wars are taking place between
different tribes or factions in the same country. what the main purpose of that
speech is. Briefly explain how
you decided on that purpose.
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Unit 4: The language of warfare
Activity 2
Speeches that are designed to persuade and inspire people tend to
use rhetorical devices. These are particular methods of persuasion.
1 Look at this list of commonly used rhetorical devices.
l Inclusive pronouns: we, us, our. l Informal language to sound ‘down-to-
l Repetition. earth’.
l Groups of three: we want it; we need it; l Statistics and ‘facts’.
we are going to have it. l Vivid images: metaphors and similes.
l Rhetorical questions. These are questions l Emotive language: words chosen to stir
that don’t need answering: Are we going up the listeners’ emotions.
to put up with this any longer? l Exaggeration.
l Anticipating objections: I know there are l Humour.
those who will argue that… l Anecdotes – stories from the speaker’s
l Giving examples. own life.
l Flow: long sentences that build towards a l Playing on the listener’s sense of guilt.
climax. l Claiming special knowledge or authority:
l Short sentences for contrast and most scientists would agree that…
emphasis. l ‘Catchy’ phrases.
2 Read this speech by Winston
Churchill, who became famous for
his persuasive, morale-building We shall fight on the beaches…
speeches during the Second World
We shall go on to the end; we shall fight in
War. As you read the speech notice
France;
how he uses rhetorical devices.
we shall fight on the seas and oceans;
we shall fight with growing confidence and
growing strength in the air; we shall defend
our Island, whatever the cost may be;
we shall fight on the beaches;
we shall fight on the landing grounds;
we shall fight in the fields and in the
streets;
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender, and even if, which
I do not for a moment believe, this Island
or a large part of it were subjugated and
starving, then our Empire beyond the seas,
armed and guarded by the British Fleet,
would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s
good time, the New World, with all its power
and might, steps forth to the rescue and the
Explanations liberation of the old.
subjugated defeated
New World United States
of America
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Text: Building skills in English 11–14
3 Copy the table below and use it to record examples of rhetorical
devices used by Churchill. An example has been done for you.
Rhetorical device Example Effect
Use of inclusive We, we, we It makes the listener feel that we are ‘all in this together’ and
pronoun that will make them feel that the fight will be worthwhile.
Repetition
Activity 3
The speech that follows comes from William
Shakespeare’s play Henry V. At this point in the
play, Henry is about to lead his troops into battle at
Agincourt, France. In order to inspire them he makes
this speech telling them that, in the future, they
will be proud to have fought in this glorious battle.
Although the speech is fictional (we don’t know what
Henry actually said), it clearly uses rhetorical devices
to inspire its listeners. The Battle of Agincourt took
place on St Crispin’s Day – 25 October 1415.
1 Read King Henry’s speech from Shakespeare’s
play, Henry V.
h e nr y This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by
From this day to the ending of the world
But we in it shall be remembered,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. 5
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, Explanations
This day shall gentle his condition. vile humbly born
And gentlemen in England now a-bed gentle his condition
raise him to the rank
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, 10 of gentleman
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
Henry V, Act 4 scene 3, William Shakespeare
2 Look at the list of emotions on the right.
pride
a Explain how Henry’s speech appeals to at least two of
fear
these feelings. shame
b What other rhetorical devices does Henry use to persuade comradeship
his listeners? List some examples and their effects.
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Unit 4: The language of warfare
3 Compare the emotional appeal of Henry’s speech with the emotional appeal
of recruitment posters A and B on page 92. What similarities do you notice
in the way the posters and Henry’s speech appeal to their audiences?
Sharpen your skills Modal verbs
Modal verbs join with main verbs to give them a sense of doubt or
possibility. The common modal verbs are:
could can might may should would ought must will
Here are some examples of modal verbs in use.
I could [modal verb] come [main verb] with you
Can [modal verb] you play [main verb]?
They might [modal] like [main verb] that film.
1 Which three modal verbs appear in Churchill’s speech on page 101?
Be careful: can, might, may and will are sometimes used as nouns
rather than modal verbs.
2 Modal verbs are particularly useful for exploring Saying America has ‘power and
ideas and considering alternatives. Look at the might’ gives listeners hope.
two student responses opposite:
The modal verbs could and might
Referring to America’s ‘power and might’ could just
have helped the second student
be a way of reassuring the public, but those words
to explore alternative meanings
might also suggest that Britain is powerless because it
and to keep an open mind.
has to rely on America’s strength in order to survive.
Assess your progress
Look back over the Henry V and ‘We shall fight on the beaches’ speeches and what you have
written about them. Use the criteria below to help you decide how well you have been doing.
Level 5 Level 6 Level 7
I can identify ways in which I can explain in detail (and with I am beginning to develop a
writers use language and appropriate terminology) how language is precise, perceptive analysis
give some explanation of how used of how writers choose their
their words affect the reader language to affect their readers
I can clearly identify how I can explain how the writers’ language I can analyse and evaluate
writers persuade their readers choices contribute to the overall effect on writers’ purposes and viewpoints
the reader
I can clearly identify writers’ I can clearly identify the effect on the I can appreciate how particular
purposes and give some reader, and explain how that effect has techniques and devices achieve
explanation of how these are been created, commenting on single the effects they do
pursued by the writers words or sentences
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