1a. What have some people advised the queen not to do?
2a. What does Queen Elizabeth tell the assembled troops about herself?
3a. Elizabeth is speaking to her troops before they go into battle. What reasons does she give them for fighting? What does she say to strengthen their resolve?
4a. Evaluate this speech as a motivational one. What is the tone of the speech? To what values or emotions does Elizabeth appeal? Given the purpose of this speech, how effective do think it is?
1b. Why does the queen not fear being among her subjects?
2b. What contrast does Queen Elizabeth draw between her outward appearance and her inner resolve?
3b. Why might her vow to join the fray if necessary, "to live or die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honor and my blood, even in the dust" have strengthened the will and passion of the troops for a victory?
4b. To what other emotions might she have appealed? Based on this speech, what adjectives would you choose to describe her?
Aim. What do you think was Queen Elizabeth I's main aim in this speech? Does the speech seem to accomplish this purpose? Explain.
Mode. Based on Queen Elizabeth's principal purpose, what mode of writing did she use? What kind of a response is the queen trying to elicit from her audience?
Description. In what part of her speech does Queen Elizabeth use description?
Exposition. In what part of Elizabeth's speech does she use the type of exposition known as comparison and contrast? What contrast does she make? Why does she do so?
Parallelism. At what point in this speech does Elizabeth use parallelism? For what purpose?
1. Imagine you are Queen Elizabeth preparing to leave for Tilbury. What concerns would be uppermost in your mind? Write a journal entry that Queen Elizabeth might have written on this occasion.
2. Since there were no telephones, computers, or fax lines in Elizabethan times, heralds carried news of far-off battles back to London and the court. If you were a court herald and witnessed the speech given by Elizabeth, what account would you give to the court on your return? Write a news account to be read at court, describing the events on the battlefield at Tilbury on August 9, 1588.
3. Think of something that you wish to encourage or promote, such as a victory in a school football game, a decision you want your parents to make, or an important choice a friend is considering. Write a brief persuasive paragraph designed to influence someone to do or not do a particular thing. Before you write, consider how you will persuade your reader, what emotions or values you will appeal to, and what reasons you will give.
Researching Speeches.Throughout history, leaders have given speeches on the eve of a conflict to stiffen the resolve and courage of their followers. The speech in act 3, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Henry V is a classic military example. In non-military settings, some memorable examples include Martin Luther King's speech in Memphis the night before he was assassinated, as well as Knute Rockne's "win one for the Gipper" speech to the Notre Dame football team. Research some of these famous inspirational speeches and compare them to Queen Elizabeth's speech. To what kinds of emotions do these other leaders appeal? Are their speeches as effective as Elizabeth's? Why, or why not?
Researching Queen Elizabeth I. Research the life and reign of Elizabeth I. Report on her accomplishments and the nature of life in Elizabethan England. An excellent resource is The Life of Elizabeth I, by Alison Weir. Alternatively, you may choose to research the Spanish Armada under Phillip of Spain and the battles between the Armada and England.
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