Rhetorical Exercise #2:
Encomium and Invective (English 120W)

As you recall from your reading assignment, Greek rhetors called a discourse of praise panegyric, commonly known in English today by its Latin name, encomium. A discourse that blames or abuses something or someone, on the other hand, is called invective. Since there are many opportunities for us both to praise good actions or persons and to heap blame on less honorable persons and activities, composing either an encomium or an invective can provide good practice for real rhetorical situations that we may face.

Ancient rhetors defined an elaborate set of directions for composing encomia and invectives. Rhetors would then elaborate upon these topics in the body of the discourse. The standard list of headings for the praise of a person was as follows:

a prologue
announcement of the class of person or thing to be praised or blamed
consideration of the person's origins (nationality, native city, ancestors, parents)
education and interests
achievements (virtue, judgment, beauty, speed or strength, power, wealth, friends)
comparison
epilogue

The same topics can be used to compose an invective. The extent to which each category is amplified should depend upon the occasion and context of the discourse. Moreover, this ancient "formula" can be adapted to any contemporary topic. Indeed, one can write a discourse praising or blaming nations, cities, families, persons, animals, or things.

In-Class Writing Assignment (choose one):

1) Select a relative, friend, favorite pet, or even a plant, and use the standard topics listed above to develop a discourse praising him/her/it. This exercise does not have to be serious; funny essays can be written in praise or blame of inanimate objects.

2) Develop an encomium or an invective about one of the Republican presidential candidates (Dole, Buchanan, Alexander, Forbes) or on a specific political position. If your intention is to blame with faint or exaggerated praise, then perhaps you may wish to write a mock-encomium.

N.B., Revised and typed versions of your encomia or invectives are due on the Tuesday following the break.