Paul Keating Analysis free essay sample

Speech 1: Everyman and Egalitarianism: Australia’s war history: Paul Keating Keating Speech View clip: http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=eNSc_2nmylA Paul Keating Speech Annotation Explores Keating’s context, Watson’s role and debate about the ownership of a speech. Also a recording of the speech runs over images of Keating. A eulogy delivered by the Prime Minister, The Hon. P. J. Keating MP, at the funeral service of the Unknown Australian Soldier, 11 November 1993 grows with each passing year, particularly as the last Australians who served in World War I have passed. Comprehension questions: What is the significance of the word ‘we’ in the opening line? What is the effect of the repetition of, ‘We do not know him’? The third paragraph informs us of what we know through statistics. What is the effect of this technique? ‘He is all of them. And he is one of us’. Comment on the importance of this line. How have Australians attitude to war changed since WWI? Describe the language in paragraph 6. What is being empahsised? What is the purpose of the single sentence paragraphs? What lessons does Keating suggest we have learnt from war? Who does the ‘Unknown soldier’ honour? A reminder of what we have lost in war and what we have gained’. How does this antithesis unify Australians? What is the purpose of the colloquial language throughout the speech? The speech expands from a soldier in WWI to encompass all Australians. How does Keating achieve this? Can you hear any change in diction in the delivery of the speech? What is the purpose and effect of the dramatic pauses? Describe the mood and how it is created. Teacher annotation of speech Responding questions: What is the purpose of Keating’s speech? Is it a merely a eulogy? Or is it more of a political speech? What values are evoked in this speech? Annotation of techniques Para 1: Inclusive language. Emphatic diction – â€Å"never† Para 2: Repetition Emphatic diction Para 3: Repetition Statistics Para 4: Inclusive language. Metonymy Para 5: Simile. Dramatic language Para 6: Dramatic pause, using conjunction Para 7: Emotive language. Contrast. Cliche Para 8: Dramatic pause using conjunction. Paradox Para 9: Juxtapositions of antithetical opposites (eg. war/peace, soldier/civilian). Universal language Para 10: Juxtapositions of antithetical opposites. Para 11: Paradox Para 13-14: Religious connotations Inclusive language- creates a link between the speaker, audience and unknown soldier Success In unifying the e country and establishing the unknown soldier as the ‘true heart of the nation’ ‘he is one of us’-made the public realised that we share the qualities of ‘mateship’ ‘courage’ ‘resilience’ Repetition ‘We do not know’ repeated to emphasise the anonymity of unknown soldier to illustrate the many possibilities of who he left behind, where he was from and his marital status Contrast of individuality and anonymity- emotive effect on the impact of war on individual and national level. Audience takes time to realise the immense costs of war- communicates the idea that peace is one of the most valued human commodities and should be pursued more readily than war. Keating develops unity and a national spirit through repetition of ‘Australia, Unknown Soldier’- draws a connection between the two. Colloquial language- makes speech more accessible to the public and helps establish a firm connection between the speaker and his audience. stick together’ ‘have bonds of matehsip’ Contrasts images to appeal to the widest possible audience and allow them to empathise with the unknown soldier Contrast of binary opposites between the ‘city or the bush’, ‘married or single’- establishes link between soldier and widest possible portion of population ‘his tomb Is a reminder of what we have lost in war and what we have gained’- Antithesis of loss and gain mphasises the futility of war, where we lost lives but gai ned a ‘legend’ on which our national identity is based Contrast unifies the country in remembering the sacrifices many made and giving us a ‘deeper understanding of what it means to be Australian’ Successive adjectives- illustrate the futility of the ‘mad, brutal awful struggle’- place greater emphasis on the issue at hand and achieve dramatic effect Generates an extremely negative image of battle and strips war of any glory he had previously given it Audience is made to realise the value of peace Distinct Structure Short paragraphs- maintain the sombre mood necessary and allow audience time to reflect on what has been said Balance achieved by variation in sentence length Used to achieve max. impact arouse simple emotions through short sentences long sentences balance information and facts Structure allows audience time to honour the sacrifices made by the war dead Positive diction- ‘nations, ours, all of us’ Diction changes when speaking of the ‘horror, terrible, sacrifice and tragedy’ of war- Negative connotations Dramatic pauses, commas and hyphens gave the audience time to consider what had been said and reflect on the immense loss of life suffered by those who fought to protect Distinct sombre lyrical tone- maintains a mood of mourning and remembrance but also allows audience to feel proud of those that have fallen before Class polar discussion: Australian history is one about violence. Australian history is a history of war. Perspective: Watson, in talks and interviews, maintains that once a speech is delivered it is the property of the speechmaker, giving his views, his attitudes and his preferred language and intonation. A political speech must in any case embody the beliefs of the person giving it. In this case, Keating’s interest in history can be clearly see, as well as his concern with an Australian national identity. It is Watson’s view that Keating’s language benefited from the fact that. Having to leave school at 15, he had made no formal study of economics or law: â€Å"[his language] served as the raw instrument of is intelligence, a shillelagh or a paint brush as circumstances demanded. With it he could sell an idea better than anybody else in the government. He painted word pictures, created images and moods at a stroke. He could turn ideas into icons, make phrases that stuck†¦when he was on a roll with he could remind you of what language can be and what it can do. † Rec ollections of a Bleeding Hear, p. 50 Historical Reception: Received tremendously well Generated a sense of pride amongst Australians- struck a patriotic chord Distinct national identity This symbol of self sacrifice was brought to life in a eulogy delivered by Prime Minister Paul Keating† Enormous outpouring of honour and pride Honoured the war dead and unified the country and created a sense of national identity Glossary of key terms: Discernible – can distinguish from Folly – a mistake Resilient – determined, enduring Interring – putting (a dead body) into the grave Ingenuity – cunning, genius Professor Larissa Behrendt perspective Professor Larissa Behrendt is an Aboriginal Australian academic and writer. She is currently a Professor of Law and Indigenous Studies at the University of Technology, Sydney. ‘Think of yourself at a funeral, and those rituals. ’ ‘The audience is the country itself. ’ ‘Every speech needs to be catered to the audience, respect the audience and engage and gently persuade them. ’ As Prime Minister Keating was not a nationalist. He is not considered conservative. He was not popular with the RSL, he believed we should become a republic, supported self determination and reconciliation, he supported a change to the flag and had suggested Gallipoli was a farce. Keating had to persuade audience he recognised, just like them, the significance. ’ ‘We have choices with words, we can use cliches and ‘catch phrases’ and euphemisms – but this speech was a ‘big speech’, he had to say something that would get ‘under the skin’ and make the responder ‘think’. ‘T he speech tries to say something concrete about an unknown identity. The pathos of the first paragraph captures this connection and the question is asked: what do we know about him? ’ Overriding concept: ‘this person is an ordinary person, ordinary people did extraordinary thing. ‘The speech tries to offer a different idea of ANZAC, he was not a noble warrior with a specific course, he may have gone for any number of reasons. ’ ‘What came out of the ear was: slaughter, shambles. How can the war be redeemed? By the ordinary men involved. ’ ‘The enemy is left unspecified, 80 year has past, this was a deliberate historical oversight. In the end, men died, the loss on both side is equal. ’ ‘RSL accepted the speech. ’ Remembrance Day- in memory of all those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts Speech coincided with the 75th anniversary of the 1918 armistice. In commemoration of this historic event the remains of an unknown soldier from the Western front were returned to the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial and a funeral ceremony was held. Funeral ceremony was to be officially recognised as a poignant and powerful symbol of All Australians who have died in war Had been PM for 2 years A Summary: Unknown soldier stands as a symbol of faith in peace, sacrifice, democracy and what it means to be Australian Freedom and spirit of democracy Promoting Australian values- belief in ordinary bloke is more important than the big one Inclusive language Inversion of values It was a lesson about ordinary people- and the lesson was that they were not ordinary’ ‘Those who taught us to endure hardship, to show courage, to be bold as well as resilient, to believe in ourselves, to stick together’ The Purpose: Primary purpose to commemorate the selfless sacrifice made by the thousands of unknown Australian soldiers who had bee n killed in war Keating doesn’t look to glorify war, but rather give thanks for the actions of these Australian soldiers who gallantly fought to protect our lands and way of life Calls us to celebrate the qualities of the Unknown Soldier and learn to endure hardship.. and to stick together’ Difficult task of breaking down the political divide and unifying the country to honour the sacrifice of the war dead Bringing country together in remembrance- aim of creating a national identity based on ‘mateship’ ‘courage; resilience, self belief and the need to ‘stick together’ The Themes and Values: Honour war dead and give thanks for their great sacrifice Need to unify country and develop a national identity Honour and Resemblance Unknown soldier is representatives of all Australians who have served and died in past conflicts and possible future conflicts Keating calls all Australians to always remember and give thanks to the selfless sacrifice of those who have served in war to protect our freedom and way of life Speech generates honour associated with serving ones country Patriotism Memorable of the patriotic and nationalistic chord it struck with audience Generated pride We had found a national identity New Australian spirit gravitated around the core values of matehsip, courage, resilience, self belief in ourselves and the need to stick together which had been brought to life by the unknown solider. Inclusive language and memorable quote of ‘He is all of them, And he is one of us’ struck a patriotic chord, unifying all Australians in honouring and giving thanks for the sacrifice of fallen heroes who had fought to protect our lands. Unknown soldier encapsulated as ‘the true heart of nation’ War and Peace Representative of all Australian’s who have lost their lives in war Honours sacrifice, yet doesn’t condone war He insists that peace is the ideal situation for Australia ‘The unknown Australian soldier is not interred here to glorify war over peace’ but instead ‘honours the memory of all those men and women who laid their lives for Australia. Keating doesn’t glorify war- prefers to emphasise the brutal realities of war being a ‘waste of human life’ cause by ‘political incompetence’ Leaves audience in no doubt that peace is better than war Honour war dead and give thanks for their great sacrifice Need to unify country and develop a national identity Essay Question: Describe how Paul Keating’s speech may engage a 21st century audience. Teacher model essay.