Rhetorical Analysis: The War Of The Unknown Warrior

When rallying soldiers to fight for their country, one must balance inducing anger toward the enemy and making sure the troops know when to show mercy. For instance, if a country or an army is overly malicious, everything and everyone could be destroyed, or another war would begin because of the soldiers' merciless lust for power and violence. On the other hand, if the troops are not aware of how dangerous and deceiving the enemy is, they may be tricked, outnumbered, or ill-prepared. A perfect balance of retribution and clemency is crucial when war is waged. In "The War of the Unknown Warrior," Winston Churchill was able to balance mercy and righteous anger in his speech just before Operation Sea Lion, the German attack on Great Britain. He

Churchill uses the imagery of light and dark to communicate the disparate roles of the Allied and Axis powers while encouraging his citizens to participate in the war effort. Churchill understood that the Axis powers had one goal during WWII: To overtake all countries and eliminate those who were not worthy of life. Therefore, Churchill needed to instill in his people the desire to wage war against the dark forces of Nazism: "France will once again rejoice in her greatness and her glory, and once again stand forward as the champion of the freedom and rights of man. When the day dawns, and dawn it will, the soul of France will. turn with kindness... to those...who in the darkest hour did not despair of the Republic... while we toil through the dark valley, we can see the sunlight on the uplands beyond" (Churchill, paragraphs 2 and 9). Churchill uses opposing imagery to magnify the purity and light of France and Britain against the dark valley of Nazi

The people know that they must fight not only for their country but also for Europe and even the world. If they defeat Nazism, once again light could triumph over darkness and every country would be free to rule itself as it wished. However, all people must fight for their country, for if they do not, the enemy will win and there will be no freedom, only oppressive darkness. Churchill paints a vivid picture of Britain, the savior of freedom, and Germany, the evil oppressor, to give his people a cause worthy of fighting for, a cause worthy of death. In a time filled with darkness and fear, Churchill motivates the people of Britain with a powerful speech called "The War of the Unknown Warriors." Churchill communicates the idea that hope, freedom, and determination can make a difference in the world through his use of imagery, symbolism, and metaphor. He gives the citizens hope for a better future with his vivid imagery, offers safety to other countries struggling under Nazi oppression by calling Britain a "City of Refuge," and encourages the citizens to be willing to fight for their future as "Unknown