Question

Watch this clip from the movie “Independence Day” of actor Bill Pullman giving a speech in a time of crisis. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechindependenceday.html

1. Answer the following questions:

a) What do you think was the attitude of the audience as the President got up to speak? Do think it was the same or different after the speech? Why?

b) What was the President’s goal in this speech? Do you think he achieved it or fell short? Support your answer with examples.

c) What was the strongest part of the speech and why?

Answer 1

There was panic, fear and confusion in the face of the soldiers. They were not in a position to fight against an alien force but after the president talked, the soldiers were really motivated and cheered up. They were convinced that they will come back and celebrate the Independence Day again.

Even the president didn’t know whether they will be able to win the battle but it’s his job to motivate and bring lots of vibration to fight because they are his lost hope. If they don’t fight, everyone is sure to die. He achieved what he intended through his speech as it was evident in the soldier’s cheers at the end.

He used Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle into the night in his speech at the end which was most powerful and in the beginning, he told that today we are fighting for the entire humanity and not just for America alone.