Tilbury's Political Rhetoric: Women In Power
Willethea Sheriah Lang
3 October 2014
Essay #1
Topic #6: “Women in Power”
Political Rhetoric in the Face of Danger
In an era known for its heightened literary and religious devotions, The Queen of England offers an unusual motivation on the battlefield. Queen Elizabeth I, known for her cunning and solid style of ruling, ascends upon Tilbury in 1558 to call troops to action in the midst of fire. She beckons them to urge them to stand firm and defeat the evils of the Catholic Spanish militia. Realizing her status in the sixteenth century era, the Queen’s brief lecture was not a precedent for her gender roles and her hierarchal position. By utilization of warrior diction, fearless tone, and religious references, Queen Elizabeth I creates …show more content…
As an efficient speaker, she offers persuasive appeals to support her position and irreticate opposition. With rhetoric, arguments can be characterized with many devices to employ their main idea. The three main and commonly used are appeals with the speaker’s ethical, logical, or emotional. However, writers and speakers are not limited to such as many illuminate their point with usage of diction, tone, structure, and other mechanical forms. The 1558 speech at Tilbury characterizes the Queen as a fervent speaker and a firm leader. Queen Elizabeth I uniquely uses the craft to uphold the valor of a warrior. As a widely known and admired English figure, she structures her agument with a motley of rhetorical devices for her …show more content…
In doing so, she acknowledges opposition of her lack of place on a man’s battlefield and offers an explanation of “placing my chief strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects.” As a result, she not only places dependence on them for her safety, but also the entire country. The use of warrior diction seen with “loyal”, “goodwill” and “safeguard” motivates a sense of reliance and belief in the troops and their ability to combat the Spanish enemy (Norton 763). The adjectives work to convey the treasured characterizations of the men and praise them for their faithfulness towards their country. Mirroring their lifestyles at home, Elizabeth seemingly uses her inhabitation as a woman whom humanist Sir Thomas Smith rejected from “meddling with matters abroad (Norton 721).” Rhetorically, she makes use of the defining social order in hopes of the warrior’s appreciation towards her kind words as their leader; thus, the warriors will admire her gratitude and offer victory on the battlefield. Queen Elizabeth I exploits warrior diction to identify the sixteenth century gender roles as a means to increase and to praise the virtue of the English
3 October 2014
Essay #1
Topic #6: “Women in Power”
Political Rhetoric in the Face of Danger
In an era known for its heightened literary and religious devotions, The Queen of England offers an unusual motivation on the battlefield. Queen Elizabeth I, known for her cunning and solid style of ruling, ascends upon Tilbury in 1558 to call troops to action in the midst of fire. She beckons them to urge them to stand firm and defeat the evils of the Catholic Spanish militia. Realizing her status in the sixteenth century era, the Queen’s brief lecture was not a precedent for her gender roles and her hierarchal position. By utilization of warrior diction, fearless tone, and religious references, Queen Elizabeth I creates …show more content…
As an efficient speaker, she offers persuasive appeals to support her position and irreticate opposition. With rhetoric, arguments can be characterized with many devices to employ their main idea. The three main and commonly used are appeals with the speaker’s ethical, logical, or emotional. However, writers and speakers are not limited to such as many illuminate their point with usage of diction, tone, structure, and other mechanical forms. The 1558 speech at Tilbury characterizes the Queen as a fervent speaker and a firm leader. Queen Elizabeth I uniquely uses the craft to uphold the valor of a warrior. As a widely known and admired English figure, she structures her agument with a motley of rhetorical devices for her …show more content…
In doing so, she acknowledges opposition of her lack of place on a man’s battlefield and offers an explanation of “placing my chief strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects.” As a result, she not only places dependence on them for her safety, but also the entire country. The use of warrior diction seen with “loyal”, “goodwill” and “safeguard” motivates a sense of reliance and belief in the troops and their ability to combat the Spanish enemy (Norton 763). The adjectives work to convey the treasured characterizations of the men and praise them for their faithfulness towards their country. Mirroring their lifestyles at home, Elizabeth seemingly uses her inhabitation as a woman whom humanist Sir Thomas Smith rejected from “meddling with matters abroad (Norton 721).” Rhetorically, she makes use of the defining social order in hopes of the warrior’s appreciation towards her kind words as their leader; thus, the warriors will admire her gratitude and offer victory on the battlefield. Queen Elizabeth I exploits warrior diction to identify the sixteenth century gender roles as a means to increase and to praise the virtue of the English