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)
-
Eleonora Buožytė,
A Study on the Linguistic Processes of the Lutheran Reformation and Northern Europe
,
Literatūra: Vol. 61 No. 1 (2019): Literature
-
Kristina Svarevičiūtė,
Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio Algirdo graikiškas laiškas Bizantijos epistolografijos kontekste
,
Literatūra: Vol. 53 No. 3 (2011): the Classics
-
Vita Paparinska,
The Golden Fleece and the Golden-Fleeced Ram: Testimony and Interpretation of Ancient Literary Sources
,
Literatūra: Vol. 59 No. 3 (2017): the Classics
-
Julia Kozlov,
Nacionalinio/etninio identiteto problema Dinos Rubinos kūryboje
,
Literatūra: Vol. 46 No. 2 (2004): Russian Literature
-
Dainora Pociūtė,
Psalms from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Hymnbooks. 16th Century: from the Nesvyžius Catechism to Merkelis Petkevičius’ Lithuanian Translations
,
Literatūra: Vol. 47 No. 1 (2005): Lithuanian Literature
-
Александр Федута,
Коровьев сказал правду (И. И. Панаев в романе М. А. Булгакова «Мастер и Маргарита»)
,
Literatūra: Vol. 53 No. 2 (2011): Russian Literature
-
Rimantas Kmita,
Rašytojų santykis su valdžia sovietmečiu: metodologiniai sprendimai vokiečių literatūros moksle
,
Literatūra: Vol. 53 No. 1 (2011): Lithuanian Literature
-
Ingrida Kisieliūtė,
Статья «Словесность и торговля» С. П. Шевырёва (1835): критика журнала «Библиотека для чтения»
,
Literatūra: Vol. 58 No. 2 (2016): Russian Literature
-
Rūta Šlapkauskaitė,
Under the Spell of Multiculturalism: Irene Guilford’s The Embrace and Antanas Šileika’s Buying on Time
,
Literatūra: Vol. 50 No. 4 (2008): World Literatures
-
Audronė Kučinskienė,
Audronė Kairienė,
Dalia Staškevičienė,
Lithuanization of the Ancient Names: Between Tradition and Innovation
,
Literatūra: Vol. 57 No. 3 (2015): the Classics