Abstract
In the Institutio Oratoria of Quintilian we find a presentation of a theory of the virtues of eloquence: purity of language (latinitas), clarity (perspicuitas), appropriateness (aptum) and ornament (ornatus). All of them were originated by earlier Greek philosophers Aristotle and Theophrastus. Later this theory was taken on and elaborated by Roman rhetoricians – Cicero and Quintilian. Aristotle in his Rhetoric explicitly identified three of the four virtues (clarity, appropriateness and correctness). Theophrastus created a theory of four virtues of eloquence (correctness, clarity, appropriateness and ornament). His system was adopted by most of others. Dionysius, however, developed the most complex system of virtues. He presented a theory of virtues, which were divided into necessary (purity of language, appropriateness, lucidity and brevity) and accessory ones. The accessory virtues were further subdivided into another three groups. Rhetorica ad Herennium offered a three fold system: elegantia (including both correctness and clarity), compositio (similar to appropriateness) and diginitas (similar to ornament). Basically, in almost all aspects being closer to Cicero (who continues the tradition of Theophrastus), Quintilian is more focused on his theory of eloquence. He discusses the virtues of eloquence very widely and deeply, step by step, drawing a number of examples and including the educational process of an orator. Above all, although the theory of four virtues of Quintilian has been influenced by Ciceron, to some extent in general it does not claim originality and plays a paramount role in modern rhetorics, stylistic and pedagogy.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
-
Aušra Jurgutienė,
The Trick of Apollo (Different Reading of Maironis’ Poem “The Spring”)
,
Literatūra: Vol. 51 No. 1 (2009): Lithuanian Literature
-
Irena Ragaišienė,
The Ecocritical and the Postmodern: Re-visions in “Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams” by Sylvia Plath and the “The Quagmire Woman” by Jolita Skablauskaitė
,
Literatūra: Vol. 49 No. 5 (2007): Special Issue
-
Tomas Andriukonis,
Antanas Baranauskas’ diary: the history of it’s writing and editing
,
Literatūra: Vol. 52 No. 1 (2010): Lithuanian Literature
-
Ramunė Bleizgienė,
The Dissemination of Žemaitė’s Literary Fiction in the Education System in 1905–1914
,
Literatūra: Vol. 62 No. 1 (2020): Literature
-
Aurelija Mykolaitytė,
The theme of Kristijonas Donelaitis in Johannes Bobrowski’ novel Lithuanian claviers, and in Hans-Jürgen Zierke’ short stories
,
Literatūra: Vol. 56 No. 1 (2014): Lithuanian Literature
-
Stanley Fiorini,
Horatio C. R. Vella,
Reactions to Tristia Ex Melitogaudo: A Response
,
Literatūra: Vol. 58 No. 3 (2016): the Classics
-
Tomas Riklius,
Classical texts in the art treatises of early Modern Period
,
Literatūra: Vol. 61 No. 3 (2019): Studies of Ancient Culture and Its Reception
-
Joanna Tabor,
Essay as the Answer to the Modern Reader’s Needs
,
Literatūra: Vol. 57 No. 1 (2015): Lithuanian Literature
-
Jadvyga Bajarūnienė,
Ekspresionizmo apibrėžtys ir tyrinėjimai XX a. vokiečių literatūros kritikoje
,
Literatūra: Vol. 46 No. 5 (2004): Special Issue
-
Thierry Laurent,
André Malraux, théoricien de l’art
,
Literatūra: Vol. 58 No. 4 (2016): World Literatures