Form and Function in Roman Oratory

This book explores the interplay of form and function in both real and fictional oratory at Rome.

D. H. Berry (Edited by), Andrew Erskine (Edited by)

9780521768955, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 29 July 2010

368 pages, 12 b/w illus. 1 table
23.5 x 16 x 2.5 cm, 0.71 kg

'This is a diverse collection of papers, in which the central theme of the relationship between form and function is broadly and variously interpreted; nevertheless, the juxtaposition of the eighteen concise studies from a fine array of scholars is at times thought-provoking.' Rebecca Langlands, Greece and Rome

In this book Roman oratory is explored from the perspective of form and function. Leading scholars in the field of Latin prose consider not only the speeches of Cicero, Pliny, Apuleius and the later panegyrists, but also those found in Roman philosophical writing, and in the histories of Caesar, Sallust, Livy and Tacitus. In each case, analysis of the interplay of form and function takes us to the heart of the process by which the author's aims are realised. The book also considers the functions of texts within speeches, the functions of not speaking and the representation of oratorical 'form' in Roman sculpture. An original and wide-ranging study, Form and Function in Roman Oratory will appeal to scholars and students with interests in Roman oratory, historiography, philosophy and art.

Contributors
Preface
List of figures
1. Form and function D. H. Berry and Andrew Erskine
Part I. The Orator and his Setting: 2. Court procedure and rhetorical strategy in Cicero J. G. F. Powell
3. Tribunician sacrosanctity and oratorical performance in the late republic Catherine Steel
4. Togate statues and petrified orators Glenys Davies
Part II. Rhetorical Strategies: 5. Means and ends of Indignatio in Cicero's Pro Roscio Amerino Christopher Craig
6. Form as global strategy in Cicero's Second Catilinarian Andrew M. Riggsby
7. The form and function of narrative in panegyric Roger Rees
8. Unending praise: Pliny and ending panegyric Bruce Gibson
Part III. Texts in Speeches: 9. The function of a divinely inspired text in Cicero's De harvspicvm responsis Anthony Corbeill
10. Debate at a distance: a unique rhetorical strategy in Cicero's Thirteenth Philippic John T. Ramsey
11. The function of verse quotations in Apuleius' speeches: making the case with Plato Regine May
Part IV. Speeches in Philosophy: 12. Teaching philosophy, a form or function of Roman oratory: Velleius' speech in Cicero's De Natvra Deorvm Carl Joachim Classen
13. Form and function of speech in the prose work of the younger Seneca Harry Hine
Part V. Speeches in Historiography: 14. Catiline's speeches in Sallust's Bellvm Catilinae William W. Batstone
15. Speech and silence in Caesar's Bellvm Gallicvm Christina Shuttleworth Kraus
16. Rhetorical history: the struggle of the orders in Livy Christopher Smith
17. Oratory in Tacitus' Annals Roland Mayer
18. Aliena Facvndia: Seneca in Tacitus A. J. Woodman
Notes
Abbreviations and bibliography
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]