Composition

Winston Churchill’s speech “Their Finest Hour” is structured around the Dunkirk evacuation during the Battle of France. 

In the first part of the speech (ll. 1-21), Churchill reviews the situation in Europe following the Dunkirk evacuation. In lines 22-58, Churchill talks about the situation within the government. He refrains from criticizing former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s policy, but urges the Members of Parliament to discuss the next steps in a future secret session. This part is meant to explain the situation the United Kingdom is now in and prepares the people for the reality that Germany might attack them next.

In the next part of the speech (ll. 59-73), Churchill makes a vow to continue fighting: “… and I made it perfectly clea...