7/25/13 An Overview of Classical Rhetoric - Origins, Branches, Canons, Concepts, and Exercises

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By Richard Nordquist, About.com Guide
An Overview of Classical Rhetoric
Origins, Branches, Canons, Concepts, and Exercises
The word rhetoric can be traced back ultimately to the simple
assertion "I say" (eiro in Greek). Almost anything related to the
act of saying something to someone--in speech or in writing--can
conceivably fall within the domain of rhetoric as a field of study.
In the case of rhetoric, even while they praise it they suspect it
of being rascally and mercenary and constituted in despite of
justice. And it is not only the crowd who so regard this art, but
also the most distinguished among the men of sound culture. At
any rate they apply the term "clever rhetorician" to those who
show skill in the invention of themes and their exposition, thus
attaching a far from flattering label to this particular excellence.
What do you think of when you hear the word rhetoric? The practice and study of effective communication (especially persuasive communication), or
the "rascally" bloviations of pundits, politicians, and the like?
These conflicting perceptions of rhetoric have been around for at least 2,500 years and show no sign of being resolved. As Dr. Jane Hodson has
observed, "[T]he confusion which surrounds the word 'rhetoric' has to be understood as a result of the historical development of rhetoric itself"
(Language and Revolution in Burke, Wollstonecraft, Paine, and Godwin, 2007).
For a concise overview of the historical development of classical rhetoric, we invite you to read these six articles on some "clever" rhetoricians and key
rhetorical concepts.
(Richard E. Young, Alton L. Becker, and Kenneth L. Pike, Rhetoric:
Discovery and Change, 1970)
(Philostratus the Athenian, Lives of the Sophists, c. 230-238 AD)
1. What Is Rhetoric?
The rhetoric studied in ancient Greece and Rome (from roughly the fifth century B.C. to the early Middle Ages) was originally intended to help
citizens plead their cases in court. Though the early teachers of rhetoric, known as Sophists, were criticized by Plato and other philosophers, the
study of rhetoric soon became the cornerstone of a classical education.
Modern theories of oral and written communication remain heavily influenced by the rhetorical principles introduced in ancient Greece by Isocrates
and Aristotle, and in Rome by Cicero and Quintilian. In this article, we introduce these major figures and identify a number of their central ideas. . .
. Read more
2. What Are the Three Branches of Rhetoric?
According to Aristotle, the three branches or divisions of rhetoric are "determined by three classes of listeners to speeches, for of the three
elements in speech making--speaker, subject, and person addressed--it is the last one, the hearer, that determines the speech's end and
object." This short article will introduce you to to deliberative (legislative), judicial (forensic), and epideictic (ceremonial) rhetoric. . . . Read more
3. What Are the Five Canons of Rhetoric?
As defined by the Roman philosopher Cicero and the unknown author of Rhetorica ad Herennium, the canons of rhetoric are these five overlapping
divisions of the rhetorical process: invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery. . . . Read more
4. What Are the Progymnasmata?
The progymnasmata are preliminary writing exercises that introduce students to basic rhetorical concepts and strategies. In classical rhetorical
training, these exercises were structured so that "the student moved from strict imitation to a more artistic melding of the often disparate
concerns of speaker, subject, and audience." . . . Read more
5. Rhetoric Review: 15 Study Questions
These 15 study questions will help you review some of the key concepts introduced by major figures in rhetorical history. The tips following each
question direct you to articles and glossary entries that provide background information. . . . Read more
6. Rhetorical Study Questions: Figures of Speech in Context
These ten study questions invite you to consider some of the functions of figurative language in the context of particular poems, essays,
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A bust of Aristotle (384 BC -
322 BC)
7/25/13 An Overview of Classical Rhetoric - Origins, Branches, Canons, Concepts, and Exercises
grammar.about.com/od/rhetoricstyle/a/An-Overview-Of-Classical-Rhetoric.htm 2/2
speeches, and other texts. You're asked to examine the various effects created (and meanings conveyed) by a variety of figures of speech. The
tips following each passage direct you to articles that should help you understand the rhetorical concepts and the different ways they work. . . .
Read more
Top Related Searches Richard E Young Alton L Becker What Is Rhetoric Classical Rhetoric Rhetorical Concepts Early Middle Ages