Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat

Hypophora is a device whereby the speaker asks a question, only to immediately answer it themselves. It is distinct from a rhetorical question, in that rhetorical questions do not require a response. Hypophora is a common technique in political speeches, as it strengthens the speaker’s argument by showing that they have anticipated potential objections or questions and can confidently deal with them.

Churchill uses two notable instances of hypophora in Paragraph 6: “You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war […] That is our policy” and “You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory.” In both instances, the hypophora sets up a topic that is then dealt with definitively in the answer (or anthypophora), and this repetitive structure gives emphasis to the important subjects of aim and policy. It also creates an impression of authority and reliability on Churchill’s part, making him seem like a trustworthy leader with well thought-out plans. Additionally, Churchill ascribes his questions to the audience by using the second person “you ask” so that his responses gives the impression of directly allaying the audience’s fears.