Speech

Unlike some other political speeches, this one's short and sweet. The man had places to go and things to do. You know, like fight the Nazis and save civilization.

Churchill was famous for his writing long before he gave this speech. And in the first four months of being Prime Minister, he gave a bunch of speeches with some very memorable lines:

• "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets" (June 4, 1940). 
• "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" (August 20, 1940). 
• "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "'This was their finest hour'" (June 18, 1940).

You get the picture: guy knew how to talk.

In the "Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat" speech, he uses different styles to convey the different purposes of his speech. For example, the stiffer, less exciting opening paragraphs have the utilitarian purpose of talking to Parliament about some serious government business; and later, he moves on with some more dramatic language to whip up enthusiasm for the fight ahead.

How it Breaks Down

New Kids on the Block

To start off his speech, Churchill outlines what has happened in his brand-new government over the past few days. He describes the appointment of a new cabinet, and what's left to do to form his new government.

Getting Down to Business

Basically Churchill just talks about how he called Parliament to session to formalize the new government, and how it will be called again soon.

People Get Ready

Churchill transitions into much more direct talk about the war that Britain's already fighting. He briefly discusses its impact on political proceedings, and firmly declares the need for Britain to prepare itself for the coming conflict.

War Will Be Hell

The final paragraph of the speech involves Churchill waxing eloquently about the danger of the coming war, the monstrous evil of the Nazi regime, and how it threatens Great Britain. He promises his own BTTS toward fighting the war and saving the world from tyranny. He outlines his vision of Great Britain's approach, which is to be victorious and survive no matter what it takes.