a brief study on Rhetoric

rhetoric- the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing; language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but it is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content

Aristotle (in book I, chapter 3 of his Rhetoric series) explains that there are three types of rhetoric: deliberative, judicial, and ceremonial. Deliberative oratory is used to persuade or dissuade an audience. Judicial argumentation is implemented for accusing or defending a person or group of people. Ceremonial rhetoric is used to praise or blame what is honorable or disgraceful. Each of these branches of persuasive language have a specific and appropriate occasion in which they should be used. All of these particulars culminate, when used properly, in giving the orator the ability to decipher between good and bad, just and unjust, & great and small.

Battle of Thermopylae - from the Persian view

This is my version of our slant narrative assignment from this past week. Mine takes the opposing view of Caity's.

I, Esther, wife of Xerxes, begin this journal to faithfully recount the happenings of the Greco-Persian battle as my beloved husband and his army are out at battle. As the King of Persia, it is Xerxes’ duty to go against the Greeks and fight them. He is taking his duty seriously and has fought bravely thus far. I miss him dearly, even though he’s only been gone a few months; it seems like he’s been gone for years. I faithfully pray that the God of my people will protect him. He sends letters when he can and keeps me, and those here at the palace with me, updated as to the progress of the war. Our troops are fighting like real men and never lose heart. They are all so weary I am sure. How hard for them, as well as my husband, to be separated from there beloved wives and children so long. It is a man’s duty to fight I guess. It makes life at the palace so much more quite, even at times restless. When I know Xerxes is happy with the progress of the battle, it is so much easier for me to be happy.

Tonight, I have received word that things are going slowly in Thermopylae. Our Persian army is fairly large especially now that the Medes have joined us. The Phoenicians and Athenians, among others, have joined with the Greek’s paltry army. The pass of Thermopylae where they are fighting, was blocked by the Greeks, but at the time Xerxes wrote the letter, they had just recently concurred the Greeks and were moving further in. The countryside, he said, is covered with oak trees, how lovely that must be in this fall weather. I can just picture rolling hills covered in the gold, red, and orange of the changing trees.

I cannot effectively summarize what Xerxes has told me, so I’ll copy his words: “We have been fighting day and night for four days straight. The Greeks though, they have fewer people, have good army tactics and strategy. They form lines of defense and switch out warriors so as to not make them too weary. We have fought through the pass of Thermopylae and are moving inward. We trade off days of victory with the Greeks frequently, but I feel our army has regained a passion for fighting, and the enemy is slowly loosing courage. Our army is fighting bravely. You would be proud to see them fight for their country and families as they do. Speaking of family reminds me of how I miss you and wish this could somehow be over soon, so that I may return and embrace you once again. I think of you by day and dream of you by night. Perhaps, if all goes well, we may be on our homeward journey by the end of the year. It has been a rough day of fighting and I must see everything in camp is set for the night and get some sleep.”

I am so eager to see him again. And to think, he could be home by the end of the year! I am sure that with God’s help they will concur. I fast and pray for them regularly. Just as God granted me courage when I had to face Xerxes about the life of my people, I am sure God will give our warriors strength.

The Battle of Thermopylae

-based on the factual account written by Herodotus in his book of Histories 7.138-239

I, Sperthias Leoprepes, a faithful and true servant to my dear Sparta, do hereby recount an accurate portion of the war between ourselves and fellow-countrymen against the Persians.

At the first signs of trouble, my greek commander sent me and my friend to the Persian king, Xerxes. We were told to give up our lives as an offering to the foreign king. There were a group of Persians that had come through Hellas and were murdered--our lives were to be forfeit as restitution. We arrived at the palace and were presented to King Xerxes. We were not killed. Instead we were told of the Persian’s plans to invade our home town and were sent back to tell our people that the Persians were coming to attack. Needless so say, people back at home did not like this news. They wanted to kill me, but I escaped by offering suggestions about war preparations. It is really bizarre that a messenger, sent as an sacrificial gift, cannot come home and be welcome. He comes home and everyone there desires to take his life. What a world I live in!

After a notable period of negotiations and endless arbitration, fighting and full-flown battle, we now come to the suma of my historic tale. I was sent again, this time as a spy into the heart of the enemy territory- Sardis. I was caught and, once again, my life flashed before my eyes: I was captured and headed for the palace--that can mean only one thing. When I met with King Xerxes, my fate was turned around yet again. He showed me all his forces, provisions, and quantities of resources, then sent me back home. He ordered me to tell my people of the superiority of the Persians and our need to submit and give up our precious land. I obeyed the first half of the command, but as to our ability to conquer our opponent, I admit, I was not going to parrot the discouraging words of the king. Adding to our meager forces, the Phoenicians, the Athenians, the Peloponnesians, and the Sicilians had all joined with us to defend our country from the over-baring Medes and Persians.

The last major battle Many days of combat had passed and neither party had made major advances. Surprisingly, our lack in numbers was sufficiently compensated by our expertise in the art of warfare. We were stationed at Mt. Anopaia, just off the coast of the Malian Gulf. Other companies of our army were staged at other positions along the pass and on the other side of the mountain and our first-line defense. With these forces in place, we were ready for any advance the Persians might make. This was the turning point; either the Persians won and we lost our homeland forever, or the Greeks won and we could have a strong foothold to fight back our ferocious adversary.

Dawn was just breaking as the first wave of soldiers started climbing the base of the mountain. At first we did not see them--the whole land was covered dense with oak trees. Subtly the sound of a rushing wind approached. We armed for battle and found that our foes were upon us. The “wind” had been numerous bands of Persians trampling the leaves and breaking the low-lying branches. The soldiers did not expect to see us, and upon first sighting men in armor, they fled back to their camp. News spread fast and the whole Achaean host was soon brandishing swords, ready for the battle. The first onslaught hit, but by this time we were prepared. We fought nobly and ended up routing the Persians four different times that day--each subsequent time more and more fully, until the last time they were utterly destroyed.

words worth saying?

As I was reading some of my homework for this week, I found some really great thoughts about the art of speaking and how a person should govern his/her speech.

"Propriety does not just deal with avoiding 'bad words' in our writing, it really just has to do with using words, words that fit the occasion. For the most part that means you should avoid swear words, but just as important, you should avoid words that are too lofty for the occasion, as well as words that do not come natural to you as a writer." -Lene Mahler Jaqua, based on Quintillion

"Those then who go to excess in ridicule are thought to be buffoons and vulgar fellows who itch to have their joke at all costs, and are more concerned to raise a laugh than to keep within the bounds of decorum...those on the other who never by any chance say anything funny themselves and take offense at those who do, are considered boorish and morose...most men are only too fond of fun and raillery, even buffoons are called witty and pass for clever fellows...the cultivated gentlemen will therefore regulate his wit, and will be as it were a law to himself. Such then is the middle character, whether he be called 'tactful' or 'witty.' " -Aristotle