Speech:
Arm Yourselves and Be Ye Men of Valor
By Winston Churchill
1. Sum up his main point (thesis) in your own words.
Churchill's thesis is, in a nutshell, 'We're going to team up with the French and beat the Germans.' There's no way to blow that up or elaborate, everything Churchill says in the speech seeks to further three points: The British are powerful, the French are loyal and strong, and the Germans are starting to wear thin.
2. What type of speech is this? (Inspire, entertain, inform, persuade?)
Churchill's speech seems to be an informative speech. He does not use metaphor or figurative speech to uplift as he did with the Iron Curtain, nor does he indulge himself in hypothetical situations. Churchill is quite content telling his people exactly what is going on in the war. He tells his people quite plainly that he is confident in both his armies and those of the French. Similarly, he is glad to inform his people that the Germans are being spread thin and worn down.
The speech may also contain some inspirational aspects. Churchill makes sure to point out the strength of the Allied Nations (specifically England and France) compared to the weakened, worn, and diminished state of the Nazis. He is likely trying to build confidence in his people.
3. How does he or she use patriotic ideas?
In the second paragraph of the speech, Churchill references the British "dogged endurance and solid fighting power of which there have been so many examples in the past" in order to remind his people and his armies of past successes and well known British military capabilities. Later in the speech he emphasis the “serious odds, often at odds hitherto thought overwhelming” faced by the British pilots in the war. He quickly follows this up by mentioning the number of German planes taken down by each pilot. The numbers are, even today, impressive
Churchill’s patriotism is most apparent in the sixth paragraph of the speech. At this point, he turns focus away from the invasion of France to focus on the inevitable battle for his own homeland. He emphasizes the need to fight for Britain’s ideals and meaning, mentioning such aspects as “life and honor, for right and freedom, to which we have vowed ourselves.”
4. How does he or she use religious ideas?
Churchill only mentioned religion once, although it is implied at another point in the speech. At his conclusion he quotes the Apocrypha, considered biblical canon in the Catholic religion which dominated Britain. This quote, “Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altars. As the will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be,” ended up earning the speech its name.
Although not referenced directly, Churchill’s claim that his new committee contains “men and women of every Party and of almost every point of view” serves to reassure his religious audience- or even non-religious audience- that they are represented in their government. It was a very smart move, satisfying all potential listeners without derailing the speech’s theme of valor, glory, and victory.
5. What values are praised? Why are these values relevant for audience?
With what can only be called a sense of old fashioned flair, Churchill emphasizes such values as honor, glory in battle, and the drive for victory. While many Americans today may consider this warlike or barbaric, I find it noble and, from a leadership perspective, brilliant. Most Americans today havee never been touched by war or violence, and find it easy to immediately condemn any action of war as an evil thing. Britian, however, was being invaded. Its villages, towns, and cities were being razed and occupied by the enemy.
Roosevelt had an easy time saying he would avoid the war (as did the American public) because the war had not yet broken down their doors and attacked their families yet. Bloodshed and violence was already a reality to the British people. In speking so fiercely in his speech, Churchill identified with whatever rage or frustration sat in his people's heart and used it to put himself on their side. He built credibility, convinced his people that the war could be one, and explained to them how it would happen.
6. Pathos. How does he stir emotion?
Churchill stirs emotion by stoking the anger and perhaps vengefulness of his people. As was previously mentioned, Britain was actively being attacked, and he knew to play off of that. Churchill has a special disadvantage in the emotion department, in how his voice is slurred, monotone, and plagued by a speech impediment lacking in ability to stir and rile up an audience. However, being brilliant, Churchill was able to take advantage of real events harming his people.
This is only a small part of Churchill's emotion however, a large portion of his speech is dedicated to boosting confidence. Though I emphasized his play on a need for revenge previously, this was less his primary goal so much as it was to assure people that it would be had. He makes it a point to make light of Britain's great strength and skill, and its strong allies to back it up.
