Aristotle Gave Us a Form, 'Rhetorica ad Herennium' Gives Us a Style

     "Rhetorica ad Herennium" was one of the more interesting reads that I have tackled this term, I thought it was interesting how the author first presented what he deemed credible and how others took a different path in trying to prove their credibility. I also liked how the author notes that "In instruction, on the other hand, one must cite examples that are drafted expressly to conform to the pattern of the art. It is afterwards, in speaking, that the orator's skill conceals his art, so that it may not obtrude and be apparent to all" (247). In a way, that reminds me of what we use today (and inevitably what I'll be doing in terms of secondary education in terms of citing past examples in order to prove validity and credibility to one's argument. 

     In the next section, I thought it was interesting that they brought up the three different types of style and the qualities within them; however, one should remain steadfast in their decision of which one to use for the occasion. The author states that one should be cautious when writing and speaking as “in striving to attain these styles, we must avoid falling into faulty styles closely akin to them. For instance, bordering on the Grand style, which is in itself praiseworthy, there is a style to be avoided” (250-251). The sections dedicated to the three qualities of style were the most interesting, I felt, as they seemed the most applicable to the essay as a whole, those being taste, artistic composition, and distinction. The definitions the author uses were interesting as well. I had thought I would be able to escape my 8 years of Latin in grammar school and sixth form; however, the examples the author uses is riddled with various cases. While much Latin was used in the reading, it also helped put things into perspective, especially when they discuss paronomasia and the placement and manipulations done to the words in order to change the meaning slightly.