Introductory description

Rhetoric (the art of speaking well, according to Quintilian) pervades all aspects of ancient life (education, public life, politics, literature...) and informs the ways in which the ancients think and express their ideas and their conceptions of the world around. It is also one of the most enduring areas of ancient knowledge and a key component of literary criticism throughout the ages, a topic that is still taught in modern universities: in an age of intense communication ("spin", even) in politics, trade, science and campaigning more generally, studying the ancient roots of "rhetoric" invites critical reflection on the world we live in and the possibilities to maintain or negotiate freedom despite bad faith, demagogy and the so-called "alternative facts".

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The syllabus below (subject to variation) has four main themes:
Rhetoric & Society;
Rhetoric & Texts;
Rhetoric in Question;
Rhetorics, beyond the Classical.
Each term starts with an introductory lecture and is articulated around two themes.
Seminars are spread over the lectures (usually in the second hour of class); the language option (Greek/Latin) takes place once a week.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Have a thorough knowledge of the spectrum of ancient rhetoric in its performative, social, political and literary contexts.
• Have enhanced their research, writing and communication skills.
• Have gained an understanding of the availability, uses and limits of primary source material (essentially literary).
• Have experience of working alone and as part of a team to achieve individual objectives, facilitating transition from university to an independent professional and public environment.
• Be able to deploy electronic technologies in their learning.

Indicative reading list

SET TEXTS (in translation):
Plato, Gorgias;
Aristotle, Rhetoric;
Demosthenes, Philippics;
more (TBC)
SET TEXTS (Latin option):

1. Cicero, Second Philippic (ed. J. T. Ramsey, Cicero. Philippics I-II, Cambridge Greek & Latin Classics, 2003)
2. Additional text tbc: to choose from theoretical works or school pieces (Quintilian & Pseudo-Quintilian) or Christian Latin literature (for example book I of Augustine, Confessions) according to students' preference.

Subject specific skills

• Have enhanced their research, writing and communication skills.
• Have gained an understanding of the availability, uses and limits of primary source material (essentially literary).-
• Have gained an understanding of the availability, uses and limits of primary source material (essentially literary).
• Have deployed electronic technologies in their learning
• Have a thorough knowledge of the spectrum of ancient rhetoric in its performative, social, political and literary contexts
• Have experience of working alone and as part of a team to achieve individual objectives, facilitating transition from university to independent professional and public environment.

Transferable skills

• critical thinking
• problem solving
• active lifelong learning
• communication
• teamwork and working effectively with others
• information literacy
• ICT literacy
• intercultural learning and diversity awareness
• professionalism