Rhetoric

Rhetoric

A body of rules to produce an artistic text, written or spoken

Genres of Rhetoric

	Genus demonstrativum	Genus deliberativum	Genus iudiciale
Topic	Honour/Dishonour	Use/Detriment	Justice/Injustice
Function	Praise/Reprimand	Admonition/Warning	Accusation/Defence
Temporal Reference	Present	Future	Past
Example	Praise, libel, gratulatory texts, ode etc.	Political speech, didactical purposes, sermon	Speech at court, pamphlet, satire, apology

Purpose of Rhetoric

The purpose of rhetoric is to persuade: intellectually (docere) and emotionally (delectare, movere).

• DOCERE: using LOGOS (appeal to reason)
• DELECTARE: using ETHOS (appeal to charactern)
• MOVERE: using PATHOS (appeal to emotion)

Levels of Speech

• GENUS HUMILE or SUBTILE: plain style, close to colloquial speech, used in sermons, comedy etc.
• GENUS MEDIUM or MIXTUM: middle or mixed style, used in learned dissertations etc.
• GENUS GRANDE or SUBLIME: high or sublime style, poetic language, designed to move the audience, used in tragedies, eulogies, heroic epics etc.

How to learn Rhetoric

How to acquire the methods of rhetoric?

• ARS: command of rhetoric techniques
• IMITATIO: imitation of exemplary models
• EXERCITATIO: practice

System of Rhetoric

5 partes artis:

• INVENTIO: invention
• DISPOSITIO: arrangement
• ELOCUTIO: style
• MEMORIA: commemoration
• ACTIO: execution

Weblinks

Rhetorik, Fernuni Hagen