We Shall Fight on the Beaches

Repetition is the act of using a word or phrase over and over again in a work of writing or speech. Winston Churchill includes repetition at the end of his speech to emphasize the thoughts he wishes to leave with his audience. Prior to this final paragraph, Churchill provides lengthy information about military maneuvers, the evacuation of troops from the Continent, and an overall synopsis of the challenges faced by the military. By switching from this complex recap to a repetitive phrase, he tells the audience what they must do in the days to come. Churchill imbues confidence in his countrymen and their ability to defend the Britain while also including himself in the declarations that “[w]e shall”.

Personification ascribes human characteristics to something non-human. Churchill uses personification when speaking about Britain, giving the land mass a human identity. For example, he declares that the British people will never see “this Island […] subjugated and starving” (Paragraph 20). Churchill presents Britain as more than just a place. The Island is a person worth defending, even until death. Churchill calls on the House of Commons and other listeners to fight for Britain and its freedom.