In his memorable crisis speech George Bush aspires to encourage the American citizens after the attacks on September 11, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, he aims to convince the audience of the official American anti-terror policy in order to defend freedom and justice of democratically elected governments – not only America - which were under the attack of a terrorist organization demanding radical targets. To get a better insight into Bush´s aims it is inevitable to analyse his deployed stylistic and rhetoric devices.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Encouraging the Citizens
- Defense of Freedom as an American Duty
- A War on a Higher Dimension
- Bush's Demands as an Ultimatum
- A Fight for Principles
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Total War: Every Resource Deployed
- A Promise to the American People
Objectives and Key Themes
The main objective of this analysis is to examine George W. Bush's crisis speech following the September 11th attacks. The analysis aims to understand how Bush sought to both encourage American citizens and justify his administration's anti-terror policy. This is achieved through a close examination of the stylistic and rhetorical devices employed in the speech.
- The use of rhetorical devices to encourage the American public.
- The justification of the American anti-terror policy.
- The portrayal of the conflict as a battle between good and evil.
- The presentation of the war as inevitable and necessary.
- The impact of the speech on public opinion and its potential consequences.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage for the analysis, outlining the speech's dual purpose: to encourage the American people and to justify the official anti-terror policy. It highlights the importance of analyzing Bush's stylistic and rhetorical choices to understand his aims.
Encouraging the Citizens: This section analyzes the first paragraph of the speech, focusing on how Bush uses symbols (flags, candles, blood), metaphors, and appeals to shared values (courage, endurance) to uplift the American public. The inclusion of diverse religious references (English, Hebrew, Arabic) is interpreted as an attempt to foster unity and avoid prejudice. The use of emotional language is highlighted as a key technique to encourage the citizens.
Defense of Freedom as an American Duty: This section analyzes the second paragraph, focusing on Bush’s framing of the fight against terror as a necessary and obligatory task, a duty for America. The use of the verb "called" and the pun on "justice" are examined to illustrate Bush’s attempt to justify his policy as inevitable.
A War on a Higher Dimension: This section examines the third paragraph, focusing on the contrast between the unexpected nature of the attacks and America's previous experiences with war. Bush's portrayal of the terrorists as cowardly for attacking civilians is analyzed, highlighting the emotional impact of this framing. The comparison of the two worlds - democratic and backward - and its implications is discussed in this chapter.
Bush's Demands as an Ultimatum: This section examines the fifth paragraph as a presentation of demands that resemble an ultimatum. The use of direct imperatives and a climactic structure ("found, stopped, and defeated") are analyzed. The section explores the rhetorical function of issuing an ultimatum within a public speech and its impact on the audience.
A Fight for Principles: This section explores the sixth paragraph, analyzing Bush's attempt to frame the anti-terror policy not as an act of aggression, but as a defense of American principles such as freedom and justice. The 'we' vs. 'they' dichotomy is examined to understand how Bush attempted to portray America as a passive defender rather than an aggressor.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers: This section analyzes paragraphs six through eight, focusing on the question-and-answer structure employed by Bush. It explores the rhetorical effect of this structure in facilitating understanding and preventing misunderstandings within the speech.
Total War: Every Resource Deployed: This section analyzes the seventh paragraph, discussing the anaphora ("every means of diplomacy...") to illustrate the scope of the impending war. The analysis focuses on how Bush attempts to reconcile the use of "every necessary weapon of war" with the assertion of a just and humane approach. The goal is to understand how this seeming contradiction is presented to the audience.
A Promise to the American People: This section analyzes the tenth paragraph and its anaphora ("I will not yield...") to highlight the promise given by Bush to fight for the principles of freedom and security. The analysis considers the role of Bush as a leader and role model in conveying this message.
Keywords
George W. Bush, September 11th attacks, anti-terror policy, rhetoric, stylistic devices, metaphors, symbols, anaphora, encouragement, justification, patriotism, freedom, justice, war, terrorism, Al Qaeda.
George W. Bush's 9/11 Crisis Speech: An Analysis - FAQ
What is the main objective of this analysis?
The analysis examines George W. Bush's post-9/11 crisis speech, focusing on how he encouraged American citizens and justified his administration's anti-terror policy. It achieves this by closely examining the speech's stylistic and rhetorical devices.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the use of rhetorical devices to encourage the public, the justification of the anti-terror policy, the portrayal of the conflict as a battle between good and evil, the presentation of war as inevitable and necessary, and the speech's impact on public opinion.
What rhetorical devices are analyzed in the speech?
The analysis examines various rhetorical devices, including the use of symbols (flags, candles, blood), metaphors, appeals to shared values (courage, endurance), diverse religious references, emotional language, anaphora (repetition of words at the beginning of clauses), the use of the verb "called," puns, direct imperatives, and a climactic structure. The question-and-answer format is also analyzed.
How does the speech encourage American citizens?
Bush uses symbols, metaphors, appeals to shared values, and emotional language to uplift the public. The inclusion of diverse religious references aims to foster unity.
How does the speech justify the American anti-terror policy?
The speech frames the fight against terror as a necessary duty, using phrasing that suggests inevitability. It portrays America as a passive defender of principles like freedom and justice against a cowardly enemy.
How is the conflict portrayed in the speech?
The speech portrays the conflict as a battle between good (America and its values) and evil (terrorists), emphasizing the contrast between democratic and backward societies. The terrorists are depicted as cowardly for attacking civilians.
What is the significance of Bush's use of demands and ultimatums in the speech?
The analysis examines how Bush's demands, presented as an ultimatum, contribute to the speech's rhetorical impact and how the use of direct imperatives and a climactic structure influences the audience.
How does the speech address the potential contradiction between using "every necessary weapon of war" and maintaining a humane approach?
The analysis explores how Bush attempts to reconcile these seemingly contradictory aspects within the speech, focusing on the use of anaphora ("every means of diplomacy...") to emphasize the scope of the war effort while simultaneously claiming a just and humane approach.
What is the role of the "Frequently Asked Questions and Answers" section in the speech?
The analysis examines the rhetorical effect of the question-and-answer structure in facilitating understanding and preventing misunderstandings within the speech.
What is the overall impact of the speech according to the analysis?
The analysis considers the potential impact of the speech on public opinion and its consequences, highlighting how Bush's role as a leader and role model is employed to convey his message of fighting for freedom and security.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
George W. Bush, September 11th attacks, anti-terror policy, rhetoric, stylistic devices, metaphors, symbols, anaphora, encouragement, justification, patriotism, freedom, justice, war, terrorism, Al Qaeda.
- Quote paper
- Tharusan Thevathasan (Author), 2011, Analysis: George W. Bush - Address to a Terrified Nation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182028
