The history and theory of rhetoric : an introduction

Wendy Olmsted, Walter Jost, Charles Altieri, Don H. Bialostosky, Wayne Booth

Part I. Rhetoric in Its Place and Time -- Introduction: contingency and probability -- The politics of deliberation: oratory and democracy in Classical Athens -- Text and context in the Roman Forum: the case of Cicero's First Catilinarian -- A conversational opener: the rhetorical paradigm of John 1:1 -- Continental poetics -- "His tail at commandment": George Puttenham and the carnivalization of rhetoric -- Rhetorical selfhood in Erasmus and Milton -- Rhetoric, rights, and contract theory in the Early Modern Period -- The philosophy of rhetoric in Campbell's Philosophy of Rhetoric -- The rhetorical legacy of Kenneth Burke -- Part II. Rhetoric's Favorite Places -- Topics (and deliberation): exemplifying deliberation: Cicero's De Officiis and Machiavelli's Prince -- Deliberation (and topics): cultivating deliberating: mindfully resourceful innovation in and through the Federalist Papers -- Ethos: Socrates talks himself out of his body: ethical argument and personal immorality in the Phaedo -- Pathos: rhetoric and emotion -- Analogies, parables, paradoxes: get on down: Plato's rhetoric of education in the Republic -- Style: the rhetoric of the Aphorism -- Argumentation: what jokes can tell us about arguments -- Commonplaces: Sensus Communis -- Judgement: arts of persuasion and judgement: rhetoric and aesthetics -- Part III. Rhetoric and Its Critics -- Epiphany and Epideictic: the Low Modernist lyric in Robert Frost -- Lolita: solipsized or sodomized?; or, against... Lire plus…

Stephen Edelston Toulmin

A central theme throughout the impressive series of philosophical books and articles Stephen Toulmin has published since 1948 is the way in which assertions and opinions concerning all sorts of topics, brought up in everyday life or in academic research, can be rationally justified. Is there one universal system of norms, by which all sorts of arguments in all sorts of fields must be judged, or must each sort of argument be judged according to its own norms? In The Uses of Argument (1958) Toulmin sets out his views on these questions for the first time. In spite of initial criticisms from logicians and fellow philosophers, The Uses of Argument has been an enduring source of inspiration and discussion to students of argumentation from all kinds of disciplinary background for more than forty years. Lire plus…

Liliane M. V. Haegeman

Haegeman's Thinking Syntactically is probably the most accessible introduction to minimalist syntax that is presently available. I used it to supplement more formally-rigorous texts in an intro graduate syntax class and found its contribution to my understanding invaluable. Haegemen starts from a very basic description of auxiliary inversion in English to motivate a theory of main clause structure (while providing supporting examples from many other languages, especialy in the exercises). Her essential approach is minimalist, although her reliance on good examples and clear discussions of theoretical presuppositions make this a useful model of syntactic argumentation no matter what syntactic theory you are working in (I found it helpful in a GB course). Very little prior knowledge is presupposed- each step that is made in the development of the theory is explained and well-motivated by argument and very good examples. Recommended for anyone starting out in syntax. Lire plus…

J Berg 1867-1946 Esenwein, Dale Carnegie

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. Lire plus…

Booth, Wayne C.

Wayne Booth's book is readable and he argues a strong case for the revival of the study of rhetoric. Booth goes one step further and argues for what can be called dialogical rhetoric. This is where parties to a discussion truly engage with each other in an attempt to understand where the other party is coming from, rather than simply trying to conquer all opposition. Booth's so-called 'Listening Rhetoric' has much in common with Hans-Georg Gadamer's notion of the fusion of horizons where different parties seek deeper understanding of each other, and through this can come to a deeper understanding of their own position. Anyone looking for a primer in rhetoric should look elsewhere as Booth's book provides only an overview of the field. He is more concerned to raise awareness and arouse interest in a subject that has been sadly neglected for too long. Rhetoric needs to be rehabilitated and Booth's book goes some way to achieving this. Lire plus…

James M May, (James Michael)

This volume is intended as a companion to the study of Cicero's oratory and rhetoric for both students and experts in the field: for the neophyte, it provides a starting point; for the veteran Ciceronian scholar, a place for renewing the dialogue about issues concerning Ciceronian oratory and rhetoric; for all, a site of engagement at various levels with Ciceronian scholarship and bibliography. The book is arranged along roughly chronological lines and covers most aspects of Cicero's oratory and rhetoric. The particular strength of this companion resides in the individual, often very original approach to sundry topics by an array of impressive contributors, all of whom have spent large portions of their careers concentrating upon the oratorical and rhetorical oeuvre of Cicero. A bibliography of relevant items from the past 25 years, keyed to specific Ciceronian works, completes the volume. Brill's Companion to Cicero will become the standard reference work on Cicero for many years. Lire plus…

Wendy Olmsted

This book for the most part is fairly easy to read. There are some part of the book where I got a bit lost, because of how it is written, especially how she cites. For example it will look something like this: "...office or profession ("of praise," Essays, P. 214)" If you are ok with having 5-7 citations like that in one page you should be fine. If you are not too comfortable with that method, it's still a good book and you should still read it. Rhetoric by Olmstead covers pretty much everything you need to know about the history of rhetoric. And Olmstead does it in a way that is easy to grasp, she links earlist ideas on rhetoric (Aristotle) to other ideas on Rhetoric in history and disciplines (politics, law, etc.). It shows how Rhetoric changes throughout history; how and why Machiavelli's view are both different from and same as cicero and why it is different. bottom line: Great book! read it and reflect on it; Lire plus…

Jennifer Richards

Rhetoric has shaped our understanding of the nature of language and the purpose of literature for over two millennia. It is of crucial importance in understanding the development of literary history as well as elements of philosophy, politics and culture. The nature and practise of rhetoric was central to Classical, Renaissance and Enlightenment cultures and its relevance continues in our own postmodern world to inspire further debate. Examining both the practice and theory of this controversial concept, Jennifer Richards explores: historical and contemporary definitions of the term ‘rhetoric’ uses of rhetoric in literature, by authors such as William Shakespeare, Mary Shelley, William Wordsworth, Jane Austen, W.B. Yeats and James Joyce classical traditions of rhetoric, as seen in the work of Plato, Aristotle and Cicero the rebirth of rhetoric in the Renaissance and the Enlightenment the current status and future of rhetoric in literary and critical theory as envisaged by critics such as Kenneth Burke, Paul de Man and Jacques Derrida. This insightful volume offers an accessible account of this contentious yet unavoidable term, making this book invaluable reading for students of literature, philosophy and cultural studies. Lire plus…

Ian Worthington

This Complete Guide To Ancient Greek Rhetoric Is Exceptional Both In Its Chronological Range And The Breadth Of Topics It Covers. {u2022}traces The Rise Of Rhetoric And Its Uses From Homer To Byzantium {u2022}covers Wider-ranging Topics Such As Rhetoric's Relationship To Knowledge, Ethics, Religion, Law, And Emotion {u2022}incorporates New Material Giving Us Fresh Insights Into How The Greeks Saw And Used Rhetoric {u2022}discusses The Idea Of Rhetoric And Examines The Status Of Rhetoric Studies, Present And Future {u2022}all Quotations From Ancient Sources Are Translated Into English. Part I. Setting The Scene. Rhetorical Questions / Edward Schiappa -- Modern Interpretations Of Classical Greek Rhetoric / Takis Poulakos --part Ii. Rhetoric: A Brief History. Background And Origins : Oratory And Rhetoric Before The Sophists / Michael Gagarin -- Gorgias The Sophist And Early Rhetoric / Jeroen A.e. Bons -- Alcidamas / Michael Edwards -- Isocrates / Terry L. Papillon -- Plato's Rhetoric / Harvey Yunis -- The Rhetoric To Alexander / P. Chiron -- Aristotle's Art Of Rhetoric / W.w. Fortenbaugh -- Hellenistic Rhetoric In Theory And Practice / John Vanderspoel -- The New World Order : Greek Rhetoric In Republican And Imperial Rome / Joy Connolly -- Rhetoric In Byzantium / Elizabeth Jeffreys -- Part Iii. Rhetoric And Speeches. The Parts Of The Speech / Michael De Brauw -- Forensic Oratory / Craig Cooper -- Symbouleutic Oratory / Stephen Usher -- Epideictic Oratory / Christopher Carey... Lire plus…

Edited By Stanley E. Porter

This introduction to classical rhetoric as it was practised in the Hellenistic period (330 BC - AD 400) describes and analyzes the standard categories of thought, terminology, and the theoretical and historical developments of classical rhetoric. Lire plus…

Wayne C. Booth

The first edition of The Rhetoric of Fiction transformed the criticism of fiction and soon became a classic in the field. One of the most widely used texts in fiction courses, it is a standard reference point in advanced discussions of how fictional form works, how authors make novels accessible, and how readers recreate texts, and its concepts and terms—such as "the implied author," "the postulated reader," and "the unreliable narrator"—have become part of the standard critical lexicon. For this new edition, Wayne C. Booth has written an extensive Afterword in which he clarifies misunderstandings, corrects what he now views as errors, and sets forth his own recent thinking about the rhetoric of fiction. The other new feature is a Supplementary Bibliography, prepared by James Phelan in consultation with the author, which lists the important critical works of the past twenty years—two decades that Booth describes as "the richest in the history of the subject." Lire plus…

Omer Aristotle; George A. Kennedy

This new edition of George A. Kennedy's highly acclaimed translation and commentary offers the most faithful English version ever published of On Rhetoric. Based on careful study of the Greek text and informed by the best modern scholarship, the second edition has been fully revised and updated. As in the first edition, Kennedy makes the work readily accessible to modern students by providing an insightful general introduction, helpful section introductions, a detailed outline, extensive explanatory notes, and a glossary of Aristotle's rhetorical terms. Striving to convey a sense of Aristotle's distinctive way of thinking, Kennedy preserves the meaning and technical language of the original text, explaining it in detail as opposed to simplifying it as other translations do.Updated and expanded in light of recent scholarship, the second edition features:\* A revised introduction with two new sections: "The Strengths and Limitations of On Rhetoric" and "Aristotle's Original Audience and His Audience Today"\* A more user-friendly format: running heads now include book and chapter numbers\* An updated bibliography\* Revised appendices that provide translations of new supplementary texts--Socrates' Critique of Sophistic Rhetoric; Lysias' Speech Against the Grain Dealers; two selections from Isocrates (from Against the Sophists and from the Antidosis); selections from Rhetoric for Alexander; and Demosthenes' Third Philippic--and an extensive revision of George A. Kennedy's... Lire plus…

By Richard A. Lanham

The first edition of this widely used work has been reprinted many times over two decades. With a unique combination of alphabetical and descriptive lists, it provides in one convenient, accessible volume all the rhetorical terms—mostly Greek and Latin—that students of Western literature and rhetoric are likely to come across in their reading or to find useful in their writing. Now the Second Edition offers new features that will make it still more useful:—A completely revised alphabetical listing that defines nearly 1,000 terms used by scholars of formal rhetoric from classical Greece to the present day.—A revised system of cross-references between terms.—Many new examples and new, extended entries for central terms.—A revised Terms-by-Type listing to identify unknown terms.—A new typographical design for easier access. Lire plus…

James A. Herrick

The History and Theory of Rhetoric offers an accessible discussion of the history of rhetorical studies in the Western tradition, from ancient Greece to contemporary American and European theorists. By tracing the historical progression of rhetoric from the Greek Sophists of the fifth century B.C. to contemporary studies - such as the rhetoric of science and feminist rhetoric - this book teaches what rhetoric is and what unites differing rhetorical theories throughout history. The History and Theory of Rhetoric uses concise contemporary examples throughout and emphasizes the relevance of rhetoric to today's readers. For anyone interested in Rhetorical Theory. Lire plus…

Catherine E. W Steel

This study of Cicero's political oratory and Roman imperialism in the late Republic offers new readings of neglected speeches. C.E.W. Steel examines the role and capacities of political oratory and puts Cicero's attitude to empire, with its limitations and weaknesses, in the context of wider debates among his contemporaries on the problems of empire. Lire plus…

James Phelan

In Narrative As Rhetoric, James Phelan Explores The Consequences For Narrative Theory Of Two Significant Principles: (1) Narrative Is Rhetoric Because Narrative Occurs When Someone Tells A Particular Story For A Particular Audience In A Particular Situation For Some Particular Purpose(s); (2) The Reading Of Narrative Is A Multidimensional Activity, Simultaneously Engaging Our Intellects, Emotions, Ideologies, And Ethics. The Rhetorical Theory Of Narrative That Emerges From These Investigations Emphasizes The Recursive Relationships Between Authorial Agency, Textual Phenomena, And Reader Response, Even As It Remains Open To Insights From A Range Of Critical Approaches - Including Feminism, Psychoanalysis, Bakhtinian Linguistics, And Cultural Studies. The Rhetorical Criticism Phelan Advocates And Employs Seeks, Above All, To Attend Carefully To The Multiple Demands Of Reading Sophisticated Narrative; For That Reason, His Rhetorical Theory Moves Less Toward Predictions About The Relationships Between Techniques, Ethics, And Ideologies And More Toward Developing Some Principles And Concepts That Allow Us To Recognize The Complex Diversity Of Narrative Art. Written With Clarity And Flair And Experimenting At Times With The Conventions Of Critical Writing, This Collection, Which Includes Some Of Phelan's Best Work, Is Itself Audience Oriented. The Book Includes An Appendix That Is In Part An Experiment With Voice, And It Ends With A Helpful Glossary Of The Technical Vocabulary... Lire plus…

Aristotle, Hugh Lawson-Tancred, Hugh Lawson-Tancred, Hugh Lawson-Tancred

With the emergence of democracy in the city-state of Athens in the years around 460 BC, public speaking became an essential skill for politicians in the Assemblies and Councils - and even for ordinary citizens in the courts of law. In response, the technique of rhetoric rapidly developed, bringing virtuoso performances and a host of practical manuals for the layman. While many of these were little more than collections of debaters' tricks, the Art of Rhetoric held a far deeper purpose. Here Aristotle (384-322 BC) establishes the methods of informal reasoning, provides the first aesthetic evaluation of prose style and offers detailed observations on character and the emotions. Hugely influential upon later Western culture, the Art of Rhetoric is a fascinating consideration of the force of persuasion and sophistry, and a compelling guide to the principles behind oratorical skill. Lire plus…