Analysis

Our analysis of George W. Bush’s 9/11 speech is inspired by the rhetorical pentagram model. Below you will find a short overview of the main points in our analysis.

In what follows, we will look at the topics of the speech – the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, hope, and the American spirit.

We will present the speaker and his position as President of the United States in the context of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and how these aspects influence the way he relates to the audience.

We will also examine the audience – both those who watched the speech delivered live and also those Americans and foreigners who watched the speech through various types of media.

We will analyze how the speaker uses language tools to achieve his intention. We will look at the choice of words and the speaker’s tone and at how the speaker appeals to the audience’s trust and emotions.

We will discuss the circumstances of the speech, looking at the events of 9/11 and their aftermath.

Lastly, we will connect the speaker’s intention of informing and consoling the audience and his actions following the 9/11 events with the language tools he uses, the circumstances, and the topics of the speech.

You can read the full analysis of the speech in the next pages.

Further help

Do you want additional help with analysis of speeches? See our general guide to non-fiction analysis: