The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Rhetoric

A comprehensive overview of rhetorical practice and theory in Graeco-Roman antiquity, from Homer to early Christianity.

Erik Gunderson (Edited by)

9780521860543, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 July 2009

370 pages
23.5 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.7 kg

Rhetoric thoroughly infused the world and literature of Graeco-Roman antiquity. This Companion provides a comprehensive overview of rhetorical theory and practice in that world, from Homer to early Christianity, accessible to students and non-specialists, whether within classics or from other periods and disciplines. Its basic premise is that rhetoric is less a discrete object to be grasped and mastered than a hotly contested set of practices that include disputes over the very definition of rhetoric itself. Standard treatments of ancient oratory tend to take it too much in its own terms and to isolate it unduly from other social and cultural concerns. This volume provides an overview of the shape and scope of the problems while also identifying core themes and propositions: for example, persuasion, virtue, and public life are virtual constants. But they mix and mingle differently, and the contents designated by each of these terms can also shift.

Notes on contributors
Acknowledgments
Introduction Erik Gunderson
Part I. An Archaeology of Rhetoric: 1. Fighting words: status, stature, and verbal contest in Archaic poetry Nancy Worman
2. The philosophy of rhetoric and the rhetoric of philosophy Robert Wardy
3. Codifications of rhetoric Malcolm Heath
Part II. The Field of Language: 4. Divisions of speech Catherine Steel
5. Rhetoric, aesthetics, and the voice James Porter
6. The rhetoric of rhetorical theory Erik Gunderson
7. The politics of rhetorical education Joy Connolly
Part III. The Practice of Rhetoric: 8. Types of oratory Jon Hesk
9. Rhetoric of the Athenian citizen Victoria Wohl
10. Rhetoric and the Roman Republic John Dugan
11. Staging rhetoric in Athens David Rosenbloom
12. The drama of rhetoric at Rome William Batstone
13. Rhetoric and the Second Sophistic Simon Goldhill
Part IV. Epilogues: 14. Rhetorical practice and performance in early Christianity Todd Penner and Caroline Vander Stichele
15. Rediscoveries of Classical rhetoric Peter Mack
16. The runaround: a volume retrospect on ancient rhetorics John Henderson
Appendix 1. Rhetorical terms
Appendix 2. Authors and prominent individuals
References
Index of passages
Index of subjects.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]