"An Investigation into the "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" by Winston Churchill: A Critical Discourse Analysis"

Abstract

Winston Churchill's celebrated speech "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" during World War II remains a shining example of the impact of rhetoric at a time of hardship. This paper will evaluate the critical discourse analysis (CDA) of Churchill's speech following Fairclough's CDA framework. Through this analysis of the linguistic and discursive patterns employed by Churchill, this paper tries to elucidate the hidden power structures, ideological narratives, and rhetorical tools that shape the content of the text. This analysis seeks to uncover the construction of resilience, patriotism, the national identity during the times of crises. Through this we will also be exploring the lasting influence of politics on collective memory and history narration.