Friday, November 20, 2009

Braveheart: William Wallace's speech


1. Argument: Fighting for your country takes importance over all else (including your own life) because fighting for your country will enable freedom and prosperity for others.
2. Audience: In this movie (Braveheart) William Wallace, a legendary soldier, addresses the Scottish army who is about to attack the tyrants of England.
3. Goal? The Scottish troops are scared to fight and want to return home without battling the powerful English army. William Wallace wants these men to fight the fierce Englishmen who have come to conquer Scotland, causing various problems along the way. The soldiers value life, while William Wallace's primary concern is the freedom of Scotland. His objective is to convince the men to stay and fight for their rights.
4. How? William Wallace gives a very logical speech (logos). He says that some will die now, and others later. But, he argues, it is more important to ensure freedom for all of Scotland so that the majority can live a quality life, without the oppression of outside rulers. His speech is relevant to his audience, the soldiers, who are standing in front of the English army and wondering whether or not going to battle is the best choice.
5. Effective? In this clip from Braveheart the Scottish troops cheer in unison after William gives his speech. They are persuaded and agree with William Wallace that they must fight the English army.

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