We Shall Never Surrender

What is the central idea of Churchill’s speech?

• that sometimes surrender is best

• that Germany is a dangerous enemy

• that the British will win the war

• that people should never give up

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Identify TWO pieces of evidence that support your theme from question 1.

• "We were poorly armed. We are not so poorly armed today"

• "It is generally said that the British are often better at the last"

• "this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never"

• "never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy"

• "Britain, other nations thought, had drawn a sponge across her slate"

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Re-read paragraph 4. How does the use of repetition in this paragraph help develop Churchill’s main idea?

• It emphasizes Churchill's primary point.

• It encourages listeners to join the war.

• It shows what Churchill believes about Germany.

• It provides details about the war.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Look at the following quotes from the text.

“...we must learn to be equally good at what is short and sharp and what is long and tough”

“we must '…meet with Triumph and Disaster. And treat those two impostors just the same'”

How does the use of contrast and contradiction help develop Churchill’s message?

• It shows that the British are used to fighting very long wars.

• It demonstrates that the British are prepared for anything, including failure.

• It shows that the British would prefer to win, but failure would be okay, too.

• It demonstrates that Triumph and Disaster are important British traits.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Re-read the following passage from the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor.

"The commandant announced that we had already covered 42 miles since we left. It was a long time since we had passed beyond the limits of fatigue. Our legs were moving mechanically, in spite of us, without us" (83).

How are Wiesel’s and Churchill’s messages similar?

• Both men are claiming that people will do what they need to do in order to survive, so perseverance is key.

• Both men are claiming that time is the most important factor in winning a war.

• Both men are claiming that people will just blindly follow orders if a leader is persuasive.

• Both men are claiming that exhaustion is not an excuse for failure.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7