T.3 RETHORIC AND POETICS

Question 1

Literary Theory definition

Answer 1

is the scientific-literary and, therefore, philological discipline that studies the literary works of art. Its approaches are general, descriptive, technical and constructive

Question 2

From what 2 causes has Lit. Theory sprung?

Answer 2

the classical disciplines devoted to the creation of highly elaborated speech Rhetoric and Poetics (two Tekhnés)

Question 3

Poetics: definition

Answer 3

Focuses on the creation and composition of poetic (literary) artifacts (tragic, epic poem), whose purpose is artistic. Artistic/Aesthetic speech

Question 4

Retoric: definition

Answer 4

studies general highly elaborated high-quality speech, that is delivered to an audience pursuing a specific goal. Persuasive Speech

Question 5

ARISTOTLE AND RHETORIC

3 kinds of listeners

Answer 5

Judge, Politician, Observer

Question 6

Depending on each kind of listener there will be different types of speeches:

Answer 6

• Forensic – intended to prove past events;
• Political (or deliberative) – debate intended to decide about future action;
• Ceremonial (or celebration); Epidictic – to celebrate current people or events. Basisfor Essay (it will develop into a secondary genre which is the essay).

Question 7

What is an enthymeme?

Answer 7

Basic unit you use in a speech to try and demonstrate that you are right. Logical ways to explain facts (usually in prepositions) in order to convince your audience.

Question 8

Difference between an enthymeme and a syllogism

Answer 8

While syllogisms lay out all of their premises and conclusion explicitly, these kinds of enthymemes keep at least one of the premises or the conclusion unstated

Question 9

What are Dialectics?

Answer 9

the consideration of syllogisms of all kinds, without distinction, is the business of dialectic

Question 10

RHETORIC SYSTEM BY QUINTILIAN

3 constructive operations:

Answer 10

• Inventio: Topics and ideas that will constitute the speech.
• Dispositio: Organization of ideas intended to the maximum effect.
• Elocutio: Effective embellishment of the speech.

Question 11

RHETORIC SYSTEM BY QUINTILIAN

2 Pragmatic operations:

Answer 11

• Memory: Mental component: psychic ability to retain and reproduce the message.Remembering what you have to say.
• Actio: Verbal execution of the speech. How you behave and move on stage.

Question 12

RHETORIC SYSTEM BY QUINTILIAN

Parts of the speech

Answer 12

• Exordium: Intended to gain the favor of the audience. At the beginning of the speech we usually find captatio benevolentiae (“I am one of you…” in order to win sympathy, you need to establish that you are part of your audience. You are not higher but at the “same level” as the rest of them).
• Narratio: Explain the facts related to the topic at hand. Before my adversary says something against you, you explain your version and point of view
• Argumentatio: Gives reasons why the addresser is right.
• Refutatio: Gives reasons why the speaker ‘ s opponents are wrong.
• Confirmatio: Give proof of your own ideas
• Peroratio: Clearly establishes what the addressee(s) are expected to do

Question 13

POETICS

What book exemplifies the main ideas Horace had about poetics:

Answer 13

Epistula ad Pisones

Question 15

POETICS

What are the main ideas Horace had about poetics:

Answer 15

• Ars and ingenium. Ars being “art” and technique, and ingenium talking about genius. Therefore, you need both to be able to write and especially, break the rules.
• He also talks about res and verba: Res (thing) meaning the content and verba (words) meaning shape.
• Docere and Delectare: These being the main goals of literature – to teach and to please.

Question 16

POETICS

What did Pseudo-Longinus write?

Answer 16

On the sublime,

Question 17

POETICS

What did Gracián write?

Answer 17

Agudeza y Arte de ingenio, Gracián. One of the most important Spanish works on poetics, focuses on “how to create good poetry”. Also, it is easy to read and talk about criticism in poetry.

Question 18

MODERN POETICS: What is one of the most important works?

Answer 18

Philosophy of composition, Poe. Explains how he created his poems. Thus, literary theory in his own works

Question 19

What are the poetic genres?

Answer 19

• Treatises. Ideas and their explanation (Aristotle’s poetic for example).
• Comments. Comments on other works that already exist (comments at the bottom of the page on the Odyssey for example).
• Prologue.
• Essay
• Manifest.
• Poem / Literary work of art.

Question 20

Literary Theory a priory vs Literary Theory a posteriory

Answer 20

Literary theory a priori tells you how to write something. While Lit Theo posteriori tells you how it was written. It is implicit and needs to be extracted from the text