SPCM 201 1st Edition Lecture 14 Rhetoric in the Renaissance As we approach 1000 A.D., we are still in the Middle Ages, but… The political situation has settled down Emperor Charlemagne begins to build schools and universities Nation-states have begun to form out of the remnants of Empire Large monarchies increasingly rise to power It actually gets warmer in Western Europe Singing of the Magna Carta (1215 A.D.) Petrarch (scholar/poet) is born (1301 A.D.) The Renaissance 1300-1600 A.D. An era in which “classical” knowledge is rediscovered There is a “rebirth” of learning Mankind’s place in life is reimagined through this change particularly through humanistic education What is humanism? A movement in education that sought to craft citizens who could write, think, and speak about the experiences of man Reacts against scholasticism: Medicine Law Religion (very supported by the Church) By contrast, humanistic education focused on: grammar rhetoric, history, poetry and moral philosophy What, today, we call a LIBERAL ARTS education is based in these ideas Desiderius Erasmus A monk and theologian trained in the humanities Including rhetoric Given freedom to spend his life in the “world of ideas” Worked for Henry the VIII of England Taught Greek at Cambridge Like his predecessors, he focused upon the value of STYLE These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. Erasmus: On Copia “Copia” = Abundance Particularly of words Studying copia increased student’s “fluency of both words and ideas” Speech is beautiful “when it surges along like a golden river, with thoughts and words pouring out in rich abundance” Erasmus does not claim these ideas Attributes to classical texts Simply making them available What is a rich copia (abundant style) Subject matter Diverse examples Diverse images Multiple comparisons Expression Synonyms Metaphors Variations in word form Diverse diction Separates them only for teaching purposes Why is Copia useful? To avoid the embarrassment of repetition Feeble and boring to the audience Monotony “nature above all, delights in variety” Extemporaneous speech Help us not look “dumbfounded Make quick adjustments to our speeches in progress Comment and critique others GENERALLY, so as not to look like a fool Meanwhile, some words should be avoided… Vulgar words Strange usages Preferring amazement to clarity Poetic words Archaic words (old words) Obsolete words (no one appreciates them anymore) Foreign words New words Christine de Pizan (1364-1430 C.E.) Perhaps the first “woman of letters” Well-born and married a court “dictator”; therefore literate in Italian, French, and Latin 1390: Father, husband, and patron died Pizan turns to writing and rhetoric to support herself and her family Often considered a “proto-feminist” today for writing on women’s rhetorical empowerment On literate Women In The Book of the City of Ladies, Pizan argues for the education of women Much good can come from women educated in “good” wisdom Hortensia as an “exceptionally remarkable” example of a women trained in rhetoric- A successful advocate for “women’s issues” in Roman politics Novella, exemplary women trained in law and rhetoric (with appropriate decorum in regardsto her beauty) The “Treasure” of Women’s Education Indeed, “not all men (and especially the wisest) share the opinion that it is bad for women to be educated” Rather, when men seek to keep women from education: It is “because it displeased them that women knew more than they did” Far too often, women are constrained to “spinning and silly girlishness” But if they are naturally disposed to learning it cannot be impeded Indeed, learning is a “treasure” for women to be cherished The usefulness of Rhetoric for Women Pizan argues there is a vital set needs for women to be educated in rhetoric Particularly ladies in the royal court Theses uses (or “virtues”) are laid out in The Treasure of the City of Ladies Virtues of (Rhetorical) Education (1) To be an “advocate and meditator between the prince, her husband, children if she is a widow, and her people” The princess may “represent” the people against her husband’s bad counsel Will politely respecting her husband - And taking other “wise men’s” advice If she does his well, she may prevent rebellion and show her virtue to all (2) “Restore peace between the prince and the barons if there is any discord” Knowing war is horrific, a wise princess will work to find peace Will “urge” careful consideration before war Will reproach the offending party with her honor intact Naturally, women’s “gentle speech” can tame men’s “hot-headed” disposition and prevent war (3) Avoiding unwise speech in the royal court, particularly: Slander, for which “there is no excuse” - Driven by hate, opinion, and envy- Better to “hold one’s tongue” and not “avenge oneself with words” so as to avoid worse consequence Speaking ill of their mistress - Particularly “jumping to the wrong conclusion” about someone who feeds you and gives you clothes Women who speak ill of anyone is particularly shameful when based in envy- Nothing is as “dangerous as is the tongue of an envious person, for it strikes and often kills both itself and another, and sometimes both the soul and its
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