Queen Elizabeth’s speech to her troops is a masterclass in rhetoric. She employs numerous rhetorical devices to great effect, making her case for why they should fight against the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth begins by appealing to her troops’ sense of duty and patriotism, invoking images of a glorious past in which England was victorious against superior forces. She also paints a picture of what will happen if they fail to defeat the Armada, warning them of the consequences of defeat.
Elizabeth then turns to appeals to emotion, using pathos to stir up her troops’ sense of pride and courage. She asks them to think of their families and loved ones, and how proud they will be if the troops return home victorious. She also reminds them that they are fighting for a just cause, and that their victory will be a blow against tyranny.
Finally, Elizabeth appeals to her troops’ sense of reason, using logos to make a logical case for why they should fight. She points out the strength of the English navy, and how badly outnumbered the Spanish Armada is. She also talks about how much is at stake in this battle, and how important it is for England to defeat the Spanish.
Queen Elizabeth’s speech is an excellent example of rhetoric in action. By appealing to her troops’ sense of duty, patriotism, emotion, and reason, she was able to rally them to victory against overwhelming odds.
The queen’s speech energized the troops and assured her faith in them as well as her leadership skills through repetition, contrast, persuasion, amplification, and language use. Elizabeth begins by referring to herself in the fight by using “we,” establishing a shared ground with the troops.
She also employs the technique of repetition later in the paragraph by saying “I know” three times to show the depth of her conviction in what she is saying. This is significant as it would have been easy for her to give up and let someone else lead in her stead, but her commitment to her people is evident in her words. Elizabeth also uses juxtaposition when she compares herself to her sister Mary, who was not a good role model for how a queen should behave.
By contrasting herself with her sister, Elizabeth establishes herself as a virtuous queen who is worthy of respect and admiration. In addition, Elizabeth’s use of persuasive language throughout the speech is effective in winning over the support of the troops. For example, she argues that even though they are outnumbered, they have the “advantage of right” on their side.
This makes the troops feel more confident in themselves and their cause, which is important for boosting morale. Finally, Elizabeth’s use of amplification at the end of the speech leaves the troops feeling inspired and motivated to fight for her and their country. Overall, Queen Elizabeth’s speech was masterfully crafted and served to rally the troops behind her as she led them into battle.
She uses emotive rhetoric to instill a feeling of patriotism in her audience. Elizabeth refers to her people lovingly as “my loving people” (line 1) and “my devoted and loyal people” (line 5). She inspires the soldiers to bravely defend England by complimenting them, expressing nationalism, and giving them a cause.
She also employs logos by providing examples of England’s military accomplishments in the past. Elizabeth notes that “we have been persuaded by some that are careful for us, and true friends to this realm, that greater care is to be had of our preservation, than hitherto hath been taken” (lines 9-11). This statement not only gives the soldiers a sense of pride in their country, but also reassures them that their queen is aware of the danger they face and is taking measures to protect them.
Elizabeth also uses pathos to appeal to the emotions of her audience. In particular, she speaks to the soldiers’ sense of duty and honor. She tells them, “you shall be both rewards and examples to others” (line 14), implying that their actions will be remembered long after the war is over. This encourages the soldiers to fight not only for their country, but also for the legacy they will leave behind.
Overall, Elizabeth’s speech is effective in motivating her troops to fight for England. By appealing to their sense of duty, patriotism, and honor, she inspires them to defend their country against its enemies.
The Queen Elizabeth citation invokes God and country throughout the address, eliciting a strong sense of English patriotism through repetition. The Queen compares her “weak and feeble” (line 14) physical form to her powerful spirit and bravery, which are compared to those of an English king, appealing to the audience’s nationalism even further.
Elizabeth’s humility in admitting her own frailty also humanizes her, making her more relatable to her troops. The Queen’s anaphora at the beginning of several lines throughout the speech also creates a sense of unity and belonging among her audience.
Elizabeth employs many different rhetorical strategies throughout her speech in order to appeal to her troops and encourage them to fight for their country. By invoking images of past English heroes, such as King Arthur, Elizabeth attempts to stir up a sense of nationalism in her troops. She also repeatedly references God and virtue, appealing to their sense of morality.
In addition, the Queen uses various forms of repetition in order to emphasize certain points and create a sense of unity among her audience. Overall, Elizabeth’s speech is successful in its delivery and manages to appeal to the different values of her troops in order to encourage them to fight for their country.
She distinguishes herself from the oppressing sexism of the era, implying that she is as capable of success as any shrewd, hard-hearted king. When talking about the defense of her country, the Queen suggests that she will fight among them; Elizabeth repeats “myself” to emphasize her devotion to her nation.
This is significant as most monarchs would never put their lives on the line in battle, but by saying this Elizabeth unites herself with her troops.
She goes on to say that she knows “no personal cause to spurn at them” meaning that she has no vendetta against Spain, only a desire to protect England and its people. This statement both shows her virtue as a leader and puts any possible doubt of her intentions to rest. Elizabeth’s pathos-laden language speaks to the emotional needs of her troops; she knows they are homesick and worried for their families.
The Queen tells them that “your wives, your sisters, and your children” are all praying for your safe return, which would no doubt bolster their spirits. In her final words to the troops, Elizabeth gives a stirring call to arms that would have invigorated her troops and given them the strength to face the enemy.
Elizabeth’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos throughout this speech was masterful and it is easy to see why she was considered one of England’s greatest monarchs. By using these three rhetorical devices Elizabeth I was able to deliver a speech that inspired her troops and gave them the courage to fight for their country.