Greek Rhetoric Before Aristotle

Rhetoric did not originate at a single moment in history. Rather, it was an evolving, developing consciousness about the relationship between thought and expression. This sensitivity to thinking, speaking and eventually writing occurred in a variety of ways, at different times, and in various places in Greece. The composition of Homeric literature and the evolution of prose writing through logography were integral events in the development of rhetoric. Understanding how rhetoric evolved into a discipline requires recognition of the interactive relationship of oral and written composition. This outstanding book examines the important individuals (including Homer, Herodotus, Empedocles, Gorgias, and Antiphon), ideas and movements that shaped rhetoric in early Hellenic culture. Readers will discover new sources, new methods of analyzing, and a better grounding for understanding classical rhetoric.