Rhetorical Analysis Of Ronald Reagan s Boys Of Pointe...

Ronald Reagan’s Fortieth Anniversary of D-Day Speech became known as the â€Å"Boys of Pointe Du Hoc Speech† written by Peggy Noonan. The speech was delivered on June 6, 1984 in Normandy, France: the site where the Allied forces invaded the cliffs just forty years before Reagan had delivered this memorable speech (Stepman). The forum itself was an important aspect of the speech. The delivery of the speech there, on the windy shore cliffs of northern France, enhanced the visualization as well as the nostalgia for the Veteran audience as a backdrop for some of the many examples Reagan had used in his speech. The purpose of this speech was to not only commemorate the American Ranger Veterans for their valiant efforts in taking this Nazi stronghold, but to also address the world, and the Soviets, that conquest and tyranny will not stand in the way of peace and liberty. Through the use of effective rhetorical devices, Ronald Reagan encompassed his theme that there is somethi ng worth fighting for when someone uses â€Å"force for conquest† rather than â€Å"the use of force for liberation† (12). With his examples of the brave soldiers forty years before, he discussed how their efforts back then affected the world at the time. One of the most important rhetorical devices that Reagan used was exemplum. Throughout the speech, Reagan gave many examples of what the soldiers had done. He described their courage, difficulties, struggles, loyalty, bravery, risk, passion, and sacrifice, with the scene