CLASSICAL RHETORIC

RHETORIC -classical writers considered rhetoric as having been "invented," or

- language that is intended to influence people and that more precisely, "discovered,"
may not be honest or reasonable. - Fifth century B.C.
- the art or skill of speaking or writing formally and metarhetoric – art of rhetoric
effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence Sophists- The first teachers of rhetoric were the itinerant lecturers
people. of fifth century Greece
-the faculty of observing in any given case the available topics- aid to discovering discourseCOMMON TOPICS
means of persuasion. -Definition (genus, division),
ORIGIN -Comparison (similarity, differences and degree),
-rhetoric is derived from Greek rhetorike, which -Relationship (cause and effect, contraries,
means, art of oratory antecedents and consequences),
-Rhetorike in Greek refers to the civic art of public -Circumstances (possibility, past and future facts),
speaking -Testimony (laws, authority, precedents)
*political assemblies * law courts * formal occasions SPECIAL TOPICS
under constitutional government -Deliberative, forensic and ceremonial
DIALECTIC- method of examining and discussing Three Divisions of Rhetoric
opposing ideas Kind of Audience Time Ends Means
Purpose of rhetoric words Discourse
*To survive Forensic Decision- Past The just and the Accusation
*To control the environment makers unjust and
*To influence the action of others defence
COMPONENTS OF RHETORICAL SITUATIONS/ THE
Deliberative Decision- Future Expedient Persuasion
RHETORICAL SCENE
makers And and
* subject - topic
Iexpedient dissuasion
* rhetor or orator - speaker
* Audience Epideictic Spectators Present The noble and Praise and
PREMISE- referring to a statement shameful blame
THREE KINDS OF MODES OF PERSUASION: DISCOURSE- refer to written or oral communication
1) Depends on the personal character of the speaker FIVE CANONS OF CLASSICAL RHETORIC
2) Putting the audience into a certain frame of mind INVENTION- This is concerned with thinking out the subject matter
3) The proof or apparent proof, provided by the words ARRANGEMENT- organization of a speech into parts
of the speech itself STYLE- Once a speech was planned and written out, the student of
THREE MEANS OF EFFECTING PERSUASION: rhetoric was expected to memorize it word for word for verbal
a) to reason logically, delivery
b) to understand human character and goodness in DELIVERY- This is divided into control of the voice (volume, pitch,
their various forms and soon) and gesture, which includes effective control of the eyes
c) to understand the emotions and parts of the body
INDUCTION - the act of providing something as an MAJOR DISTINCTION TYPICALLY DRAWN BETWEEN CLASSICAL
evidence or proof to support an argument AND MODERN RHETORIC
ENTHYMEME - a syllogism in which one of the premise 1. CLASSICAL RHETORIC
is implicit  Man is a rational animal living in a society marked by social
-syllogism from premises based on probabilities and cohesion and agreed upon values.
signs  Emphasis is on logical proofs
TWO KINDS OF SIGNS BASE ON THE ENTHYMEME  Rhetor-audience relationship is antagonistic, characterized by
Infallible Signs – complete proof, because its argument manipulative, one way communication.  Goal is persuasion.
is irrefutable 2. MODERN RHETORIC
Fallible Signs – Its argument is causally related and is  Man is symbol-using animal living in a fragment society.
refutable  Emphasis is on emotional proofs
LINES OF ARGUMENT  Rhetor-audience relationship is cooperative, characterized by
Special Lines of Argument is based on such empathetic, two- way communication.
propositions as apply only to particular groups or  Goal is communication.
classes of things. FEMINIST RHETORIC
General Lines of Argument has no special subject- It is the study and practice of feminist discourses in public and
matter private life