Kayla

1 Aragorn's speech at the Battle of the Black Gate


 * 1) What is the purpose of the speech? Provide a brief statement of context.
 * 2) Who is the audience?
 * 3) Which appeal (ethos, pathos, logos) is most prevalent? How do you know?
 * 4) Is the argument effective? Were any logical fallacies used?
 * 5) How could the argument have been strengthened?

1. The purpose of the speech was to rally up courage and support among the soldiers because a larger orc army was approaching them from Mordor. The orcs were stronger and more numerous, but the humans had something to fight for - their lives. Saruman wanted to destroy the human race by using orcs, and the humans were forced to fight for their land, race, and freedom.

2. The audience is the human army fighting against the orc army.

3. Pathos is most prevalent in the speech. Aragorn is trying to incite courage amongst the army and using their emotions by making them believe they have to fight for their lives or let their race be destroyed.

4. The speech was effective because before Aragorn, the soldiers were very nervous and wanted to give up. After the speech, they raised their swords and were ready to fight the orc army.

5. The speech couldn't have been strengthened that much. Aragorn assures the army that they will prevail and there is a need to fight for what they hold dear and to save their race from being destroyed.