CLAS3302 · Classical Studies

Greek Rhetoric

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

The class will explore the theory and practice of classical Greek rhetoric. From Homer onward, persuasive speech occupied a central place in Greek political and cultural life, and Greeks were the first western theorists of how and why verbal persuasion works. We will read works by early Greek orators Gorgias, Antiphon, and Lysias in Greek, along with ancient discussions of rhetorical composition and critiques of rhetoric in English. We will focus on the construction and contexts of Greek oratory and on the social-historical issues illuminated by the speeches themselves.