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)
-
Nijolė Brazauskienė,
The Image of Lithuania Minor in the 19th Century in Jodocus Donatus Hubertus Temme’s Novel Anna Jogszis
,
Literatūra: Vol. 56 No. 4 (2014): World Literatures
-
Magnus Frisch,
ἦ μάλα θαῦμα κύων ὅδε κεῖτ᾽ ἐνὶ κόπρῳ: The Anagnorisis of Odysseus and His Dog Argos (Hom. Od. 17, 290–327)
,
Literatūra: Vol. 59 No. 3 (2017): the Classics
-
Aistė Birgerytė,
Identity change of the disable body during 1st half of the 20th century: On the Roads of Misery. Memories from the Battles for Independence and the Life of the Blind by Pranas Daunys
,
Literatūra: Vol. 48 No. 6 (2006): Special Issue
-
Juldita Nagliuvienė,
’El Šaddaj kaip savimąstą paneigiantis ir gyvenimą transformuojantis principas. Kintančio Dievo idėja Thomo Manno tetralogijoje Juozapas ir jo broliai
,
Literatūra: Vol. 47 No. 4 (2005): World Literatures
-
Ingrida Žindžiuvienė,
Transtextual Bridge Between the Postmodern and the Modern: the Theme of the “Otherness” in Monique Truong’s Novel the Book of Salt (2003) and Gertrude Stein’s The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (1932)
,
Literatūra: Vol. 49 No. 5 (2007): Special Issue
-
Elena Baliutytė,
Naujųjų pasakojimų naujieji mitai [Audinga Peluritytė, Senieji mitai, naujieji pasakojimai: apie naujausią lietuvių literatūrą]
,
Literatūra: Vol. 49 No. 1 (2007): Lithuanian Literature
-
Медина Елисова,
Мировое древо в картине мира Бориса Пастернака: образ поезда (в проекции на этномифопоэтическую систему восточных славян)
,
Literatūra: Vol. 49 No. 2 (2007): Russian Literature
-
Dalia Jakaitė,
Veidas ir transcendencija šiuolaikinėje lietuvių poezijoje (teologinės ir filosofinės etikos akiratis)
,
Literatūra: Vol. 59 No. 1 (2017): Literature
-
Ramunė Bieliauskaitė,
Erdvės ir laiko poetika Bernardo Marie Koltèso pjesėse
,
Literatūra: Vol. 46 No. 4 (2004): World Literatures
-
Kristina Sakalavičiūtė,
Балис Сруога и Лев Карсавин: диалоги драматурга и философа
,
Literatūra: Vol. 52 No. 2 (2010): Russian Literature