English 622: Classical Rhetoric

Quintilian pretty much rocks. I like that he is not interested in making little Romans memorize things (Bk II, Chpt 7), I like that he recommends positive commentary rather then negative (Bk II, Chpt 6), and I like that he suggests composition can be fun (Bk II, Chpt 4)! While Q. is in love with Cicero, I found him much more clear, more succinct, more caring. What does all this add up to for the ancient rhetorics today?

As I was reading Quintilian’s Institutio oratoria my mind kept making parallels to the educational structure currently in place in the United States. First there is the idea that there is instructional methods and study materials that are age appropriate, which sounds a little like the distinctions we make for the education received in elementary schools, high schools, and college. We also see the idea of students learning in environments that best match their own learning needs.

When we were reading Cicero, I kept thinking that I know very few people who would have the attention span or endurance to sit and listen all day to a lecture on rhetoric. I may, of course, have been projecting the attitude of freshman onto those listeners.

As I read Quintilian’s discussion of the orator as a teacher, I tried to envision what the students would be like.