Genre
War Speech
Setting and Context
Tilbury, 1588
Narrator and Point of View
Elizabeth I
Tone and Mood
Foreboding, uplifting
Protagonist and Antagonist
The english troops were the protagonists, the spanish were the antagonists.
Major Conflict
The threat of the Spanish invasion
Climax
Elizabeth foreseeing the victory of England
Foreshadowing
As the speech was written by Queen Elizabeth, most likely at the time of the event, foreshadowing is not possible.
Understatement
The speech plays up the importance and danger of the invasion, however the invasion never came and the troops were stood down two days later.
Allusions
"and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain". Alludes to the political situation of the time, which would have been well known by the contemporary audience.
Imagery
"to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust."
"but I have the heart and stomach of a king"
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
The imagery that Queen Elizabeth gave her body to her country parallels many of her other ideals. For example, she never took a husband as she considered herself married to England.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Elizabeth herself personifies her people as one united force who will stand against invaders.
