Funeral_Service_to_the_Unkown_Soldier

Funeral Service of The Unknown Soldier Paul Keating 1993 ‘Funeral Service of The Unknown Soldier’ is an exploration of the Australian spirit through the anecdotes of Australia’s war dead. Keating focuses on the unity and comradery of the soldiers, which have attributed to the iconic ANZAC legend, a staple in Australian war commemoration. Throughout the speech Keating has used a number of rhetorical devices that enable the listener and reader to connect with the speaker on a deeper, more memorable level. The speech was presented by the then Prime Minister, on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the laying down of arms and end of WWI. Keating uses the metaphor of the unknown soldier to represent “one of the 100,000 soldiers who have died on foreign soil this century” as well as the other soldiers and nurses who volunteered their services during times of war. This is emphasised proceeding the introduction with the use of metonymy “he is all of them. And he is one of us [Australian]”. The introduction uses emphatic diction to emphasise the ambiguity of the solider “we do not…” and demonstrates his inclusion in the ANZAC psyche. The introduction also brings into focus the underlying theme of unity, which remains key throughout the speech. This is addressed through the use of personification “His tomb a reminder of what we have lost in war and what we have gained”. Through unity, the tomb reflects the sacrifice of the soldiers that had les to the gain of the Australian people. Keating also develops unity and a collective national spirit through the repetition of “Australia, Unknown Soldier”. This often-direct comparison draws a connection between the two Keating use of colloquial language makes the speech more accessible to the public and helps establish a firm connection between the speaker and his audience, “stick together” “have bonds of mateship”. This is coupled with his juxtaposition of imagery “peace/war”, that he uses to appeal to the widest possible audience, allowing them to empathise with the Unknown Soldier. Primary purpose of the speech is to commemorate the selfless sacrifice made by the thousands of unknown Australian soldiers. 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.