Question

Explain the reasons why Churchill thinks a German invasion of Great Britain would be unsuccessful, using at least one quote from the speech. (7pts)

At underlined sentence number 4 in the speech, Churchill says "We have to think of the future and not of the past.” How would a sentiment like this benefit Churchill and the other members of the government, considering they had been the ones running the war to date? (4pts)

What does Churchill say are the dangers of attempting to lay blame at that point in time? (3pts)

At underline number 18, Churchill says “We abate nothing of our just demands; not one jot or tittle do we recede.” Read the sections of the speech around the quote. What are the “just demands” he’s talking about? (5pts)

Including definitions for the highlighted words, what specifically does the underlined section of the quote mean? (2pts)

Churchill ends his speech by saying, “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’" Is this an appeal to logos, ethos, or pathos? How do you know? (6pts)

Answer 1

Churchill's Reasons for German Invasion of Great Britain Being Unsuccessful:

Churchill believed that a German invasion of Great Britain would be unsuccessful because of the country's strong navy, air force, and experienced soldiers. In his speech, he states, "The odds were great; our margins small; the stakes infinite." He further adds that the Royal Air Force is "adequate to repel at least a severe invasion." He also mentions that the British navy is "the most powerful in the world."

Benefit of Thinking About the Future and Not the Past:

By urging people to focus on the future and not the past, Churchill could motivate the government and the public to look forward and take positive action. Churchill may have felt that by dwelling on past mistakes, people could become discouraged and lose hope. By encouraging people to think about the future, he could inspire them to work towards victory and focus on what needed to be done to achieve it.

Dangers of Laying Blame:

Churchill warns against the dangers of laying blame because it can lead to disunity and harm the country's war effort. He states that "the time for such discussion is not now," and that they should "cast aside recriminations and make sure that our first duty is done." Churchill is calling for unity and urging people to work together to win the war instead of arguing and assigning blame.

Churchill's Just Demands:

Churchill's "just demands" refer to the conditions that he had set out for peace negotiations with Germany. He believed that Britain and its allies were fighting a just war and that they had the right to dictate the terms of peace. Churchill outlines these demands in his speech and states that Britain would not "abate" any of them.

Meaning of Underlined Section:

The underlined section means that Britain will not compromise or back down on any of its demands for peace negotiations with Germany. The phrase "not one jot or tittle" means "not even a tiny amount." Churchill is emphasizing that Britain's demands are non-negotiable, and they will not make any concessions to Germany.

Appeal to Logos, Ethos, or Pathos:

The ending of Churchill's speech is an appeal to pathos, which is an emotional appeal. He is urging people to do their duty and bear themselves in a way that will make future generations proud. This appeal is designed to evoke feelings of patriotism and pride in one's country and to motivate people to work towards victory.

Step-by-step explanation: