ANALYSIS OF
“STRIKE AGAINST
WAR”
Helen Keller
Subject
“Strike against war.”
 YOU must help, “[ . . . ] for without you no battles can
be fought.”
 Throughout Helen’s speech, she alludes back to her
negative depiction of war and persuades others to
realize that war must not be thought of lightly.
Occasion
 “With the silence and dignity of creators, you can end
wars and the system of selfishness and exploitation that
causes wars.”
 Speech written to argue Helen’s strong beliefs against war
delivered in New York City on January 5th, 1915.
Audience
 “The future of the world rests in the hands of America.”
 Directed to everyone, but specifically Americans
 Helen uses words such as “you”, “your”, and “we” when
addressing her audience for effect
Purpose
 “Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction.
Be heroes in an army of construction.”
 Speech written to inspire others to stand up for what is
right and to strike against what is wrong!
Speaker
Helen Keller
 “Now let me be understood once and for all that I do not want
their pity; I would not change places with one of them.”
 Helen Keller was an American author and public speaker, who
was both blind and deaf, but remained determined to never give
up and fought for what she believed in.
Ethos
“I have entered the fight against
preparedness and against the economic
system under which we live.”
Keller:
Never doubts herself
 Is educated on the topic of which she
speaks
 Is believable
 CONFIDENT SPEAKER =
CONFIDENT AUDIENCE 
Pathos
 “They [the soldiers] are taught that brave men die for their
country’s honor. What a price to pay for an abstraction—
the lives of millions of young men; other millions crippled
and blinded for life; existence made hideous for still more
millions of human beings.”
 Helen is trying to make people realize the results of war
and feel bad for supporting it. She also mentions the
suffering of children, which many audience members take
to heart.
Logos
 “Congress is preparing to defend the people of the United
States. It is planning to protect the capital of American
speculators and investors in Mexico, South America, China,
and the Philippine Islands.”
 Americans (the audience) believe the government is
commencing a war to protect the people of America,
when in actuality they are doing it for money
Tone
Serious - Motivational - Persuasive
 “They are not free […]”
 “We are not free […]”
 “It is your business […]”
 “It is your duty […]”
 “Strike against […]”
 “You can end wars […]”