Rhetorical Analysis Of Prime Minister Blair's Speech

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8:16, September 11, 2001. A plane crash not only devastated one country, but sent may other into shock. An Al Qaeda terrorist cell, over powering many different pilots and crashing into many different landmarks central to the U.S. aghasted our great country. The remarks from President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair were both of humility and grief, however, the tone and audience of the two different speeches were utterly different from each of the leaders. President Bush encompasses a more patriotic tone is his speech. While he is still remorseful for the events that took place, he refers to the country for healing. He refers to the nation for stability. He refers to the nation for strength. This tone makes it evident that President Bush …show more content…

The speech seemed to be a eulogy of sorts to those who lost their loved ones that day. How the “punishment of the guilty” was not the highest concern in the room, but to honor and memorialize those who were lost that day. While to tone is remorseful, just as President Bush, Prime Minister Blair’s speech is not as much of a plea to the nation as it is to condole the people who lost loved ones. Prime Minister Blair uses imagery and flashbacks in his speech to convey his points. In the beginning of his speech, he flashes back to “Just two weeks ago, in New York, after the church service I met some of the families of the British victims.” Then, contained in his flashback, Prime Minister Blair uses imagery to create the context of the room, “It was in many ways a very British occasion. Tea and biscuits. It was raining outside. Around the edge of the room, strangers making small talk, trying to be normal people in an abnormal situation.” As his flashback progresses, he references the tone of the room. These rhetorical devises, as well as his tone, help Prime Minister Blair to create an impactful