Queen Elizabeth I: Speech to the Troops at Tillbury Analysis 11-21-2013, 12:11 AM
#1
Since everyone is posting essays they've written, I thought I might as well as join in on the fun. This is something short I had to write for my english class this year. 
Speech to the Troops at Tillbury: Analysis
The proper usage of both diction and syntax are vital when attempting to deliver an important speech to an audience, especially under extreme circumstances. Queen Elizabeth I was under the influence of such conditions but was still able to formulate and convey a masterful discourse in which she raised the spirits of her subjects and inspired them for the battle in which they would triumph over the Spaniards. Her usage of rhetorical strategies such as sentence structure, word choice and imagery is essential in transmitting the intended meaning behind her oration.
In her address, Queen Elizabeth utilizes diction very carefully by stating, “…my faithful and loving people” and “ …loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects”, in order to show that she has the uttermost respect for her people and soldiers and present herself as a loving monarch. In addition to making herself loving, she also includes powerful, negative phrases concerning the opposition including, “…and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm”. By using this language, she belittles all European rulers, especially the Spanish king, by referring to him as a mere prince. It is in this way that she provides her fleet with higher morale because they are no longer battling a king with a lifelong knowledge of war, but a feeble prince. This line has additional strength due to Elizabeth previously stating that, “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too,” because she states that even though she is only a woman she acts and rules as a king which adds to the inferiority of European leaders (particularly Phillip II) as princes in the presence of a king.
Elizabeth effectively uses imagery throughout her address as well, its purpose being to end arguments or misunderstandings, and create confidence. She addresses the common image that she believes may be embedded in many of her subject’s minds of “armed multitudes” of citizens committing acts of “treachery” in her kingdom and dispels it by stating that her people are “faithful and loving”. In putting down this argument she accomplishes two major deeds: one being that the distress brought in by such illusions is ceased and the other being that she continues reminding her people of how wondrous and loving they are, which builds up their already high opinion of themselves as the people of a strong, united nation. She then goes on to establish an extremely powerful image of herself fighting amidst her people, “… I am come amongst you, as you see, as this time…, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust” to form an emotional appeal and raise enthusiasm for the oncoming battle. The climactic ending of the line is especially effective because it shows how Elizabeth is willing give herself to the point of gashing, bloody wounds in order to protect her nation and this, in turn, would also inspire her troops to fight more valiantly. She provides her next image as a “weak and feeble woman” in order to show her shortcomings but then also counters them with showing that she possesses even more admirable features, “the heart and stomach of a king” to lay down any reluctance to having her as a female leader, especially when she says that her features are “of a king of England too”.
The Queen also heavily relies on sentence structure to carry her points across to her addressees. The Queen states, “Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects”. This entire line creates a mutual bond between the Queen and her subjects by showing that Elizabeth’s greatest strength was in the people which is meant to also to show the evils of the invading Spaniards by discrediting their king by naming him as a tyrant. She later declares: “I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field”. In this statement she uses the phrase “I myself will” repetitively to show her commitment to the battle and to spark more confidence in the men. She states all of her duties to her soldiers in increasing order of necessary commitment, she will not only fight and lead them, but also evaluate them and then reward them for their service. In the concluding sentence, the Queen states: “Not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom and of my people. In this statement she makes it clear that because the troops will obey the leader, and fight valiantly that they will soon have a famous victory over the invaders. She also displays some trust in her soldiers because not everyone may fight with bravery but she has faith that they will. Using this line of reasoning, the Queen makes it clear that victory shall be theirs’ before the fight even begins.
The Queen shapes her words to match her audience, and in doing so she is successful in establishing a unity and belief in her men that victory will soon be upon them. She predicts victory and promotes enthusiasm in her soldiers. By using her reasoning she is able to establish trust with her people while defeating any criticisms.
Speech to the Troops at Tillbury: Analysis
The proper usage of both diction and syntax are vital when attempting to deliver an important speech to an audience, especially under extreme circumstances. Queen Elizabeth I was under the influence of such conditions but was still able to formulate and convey a masterful discourse in which she raised the spirits of her subjects and inspired them for the battle in which they would triumph over the Spaniards. Her usage of rhetorical strategies such as sentence structure, word choice and imagery is essential in transmitting the intended meaning behind her oration.
In her address, Queen Elizabeth utilizes diction very carefully by stating, “…my faithful and loving people” and “ …loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects”, in order to show that she has the uttermost respect for her people and soldiers and present herself as a loving monarch. In addition to making herself loving, she also includes powerful, negative phrases concerning the opposition including, “…and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm”. By using this language, she belittles all European rulers, especially the Spanish king, by referring to him as a mere prince. It is in this way that she provides her fleet with higher morale because they are no longer battling a king with a lifelong knowledge of war, but a feeble prince. This line has additional strength due to Elizabeth previously stating that, “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too,” because she states that even though she is only a woman she acts and rules as a king which adds to the inferiority of European leaders (particularly Phillip II) as princes in the presence of a king.
Elizabeth effectively uses imagery throughout her address as well, its purpose being to end arguments or misunderstandings, and create confidence. She addresses the common image that she believes may be embedded in many of her subject’s minds of “armed multitudes” of citizens committing acts of “treachery” in her kingdom and dispels it by stating that her people are “faithful and loving”. In putting down this argument she accomplishes two major deeds: one being that the distress brought in by such illusions is ceased and the other being that she continues reminding her people of how wondrous and loving they are, which builds up their already high opinion of themselves as the people of a strong, united nation. She then goes on to establish an extremely powerful image of herself fighting amidst her people, “… I am come amongst you, as you see, as this time…, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust” to form an emotional appeal and raise enthusiasm for the oncoming battle. The climactic ending of the line is especially effective because it shows how Elizabeth is willing give herself to the point of gashing, bloody wounds in order to protect her nation and this, in turn, would also inspire her troops to fight more valiantly. She provides her next image as a “weak and feeble woman” in order to show her shortcomings but then also counters them with showing that she possesses even more admirable features, “the heart and stomach of a king” to lay down any reluctance to having her as a female leader, especially when she says that her features are “of a king of England too”.
The Queen also heavily relies on sentence structure to carry her points across to her addressees. The Queen states, “Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects”. This entire line creates a mutual bond between the Queen and her subjects by showing that Elizabeth’s greatest strength was in the people which is meant to also to show the evils of the invading Spaniards by discrediting their king by naming him as a tyrant. She later declares: “I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field”. In this statement she uses the phrase “I myself will” repetitively to show her commitment to the battle and to spark more confidence in the men. She states all of her duties to her soldiers in increasing order of necessary commitment, she will not only fight and lead them, but also evaluate them and then reward them for their service. In the concluding sentence, the Queen states: “Not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom and of my people. In this statement she makes it clear that because the troops will obey the leader, and fight valiantly that they will soon have a famous victory over the invaders. She also displays some trust in her soldiers because not everyone may fight with bravery but she has faith that they will. Using this line of reasoning, the Queen makes it clear that victory shall be theirs’ before the fight even begins.
The Queen shapes her words to match her audience, and in doing so she is successful in establishing a unity and belief in her men that victory will soon be upon them. She predicts victory and promotes enthusiasm in her soldiers. By using her reasoning she is able to establish trust with her people while defeating any criticisms.
![[+]](https://sinister.ly/images/modern/collapse_collapsed.png)
