10th World Literature
M. Walls
Speech Analysis: Rough Draft
1. Who is the author/speaker of your speech?
_______________________________________________________
2. What is the title of your speech?
_______________________________________________________
3. Why was this speech given?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4. When was this speech given?
_______________________________________________________
5. What did your speaker hope to achieve with speech and how was it successful?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Using this information, write an Introductory Paragraph below:
SAMPLE
Introduction: In August of 1588, Queen Elizabeth I and England are engaged in a battle for European supremacy with
Spain. England faces the prospect of a land invasion from the Spanish Netherlands aided by the renowned Armada. This
critical moment in history would be a grave test for Queen Elizabeth I. Spain’s army is formidable and Elizabeth could not
be certain of a victory. Rather than retreat, Queen Elizabeth meets Spain with noble courage, as if victory could be won
through the strength of her resolve. On August 19, Queen Elizabeth delivers a memorable speech to troops preparing for
battle at Tilbury in Essex. Queen Elizabeth makes a powerful rhetorical appeal for loyalty to England and to herself as
ruler. Her motive is to encourage her soldiers to stand courageously, but she also seeks to prove that she is a potent leader
and worthy adversary, and thus Queen Elizabeth faces a separate challenge as demanding as any clash of arms. Queen
Elizabeth uses “The Speech to the Troops at Tilbury” to solidify her place as a female monarch in a world ruled by men
through her religious and emotional appeals. At Tilbury, the English army and the greater world witness the heart of the
English Queen inspiring her troops with a dramatic rhetorical triumph before a battle that would later establish England as
a world power and Queen Elizabeth as one of the most powerful and beloved monarchs.
Topic Sentence: The Queen’s speech contains standard elements of a commander’s battlefield address; Queen Elizabeth
encourages her men, exhorts them to do their duty, justifies their cause, affirms her commitment to them, and exhibits
confidence in England’s inevitable triumph.
Topic Sentence: The commanding tone and language of the speech also serve Elizabeth’s ethos. The Queen conforms to
the gravity of the moment and assures her troops that she takes this undertaking seriously and radiates a genuine pride in
the English nation
Topic Sentence: In revealing her character, Elizabeth also seeks to project an image of masculine power. Queen
Elizabeth’s words appear to seek a second audience—the scornful voices that claim a woman can not rule and can not
wage war.
Topic Sentence: The logical aspects of Elizabeth’s speech involve both the divine and the mundane. The Queen
repeatedly alludes to her God, which hints at her divine right to rule the English nation, and significantly implies that God
is on her side in the present conflict.
Topic Sentence: However, the true strength of Queen Elizabeth’s rhetoric lies in its pathos. Throughout the speech Queen
Elizabeth uses emotional appeals to connect with the troops and the English people. In emphasizing her subjects, her
realm, and her general, Elizabeth underscores both her royal significance and her personal investment.
Conclusion: In Queen Elizabeth’s speech to the troops at Tilbury, one can glimpse something of how Elizabeth shapes
herself into a brilliantly successful monarch. One sees how Elizabeth deftly handles the complexity of being a female
monarch in a world contemptuous of this entity. The Queen cultivates personal, psychological, and political power. She
effectively builds up her royal persona with her language and tone as she successfully encourages her men with her belief
that they will prevail. Throughout the speech she also politically maneuvers through her challenging of norms that
establish the supremacy of her rule. Clearly, much of Queen Elizabeth’s legacy can be found in the speech at Tilbury,
especially her fierce determination and dedication to her people. The defeat of the Armada and the successful defense of
England are defining moments in the reign of the Virgin Queen who would go on to rule for nearly half a century, lending
her name to a glorious epoch in world history.
Complete the following charts.
Appeal and Example
Effect/ SO WHAT?
Do you need to talk about Ethos, Logos, and Pathos as separate paragraphs or could you combine them in some other
way?
Diction, Imagery, Tone
Example from the text
Category
So WHAT?
Consider whether these would need their own paragraph or if they could be combined with your appeals in the previous
chart.
OUTLINE YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS with COMPLETE SENTECES!