English 622: Classical Rhetoric

I just finished a blog posting that, for whatever reason, didn't post, so I'm starting from scratch. Argh.

Basically, I liked the fact that Longinius is the progenitor of Bartholomae's argument in "Inventing the University." He does a nice job of arguing that correctness doesn't equal greatness and that the errors of compositional fervor are far outweighed by the sublimity it produces.

Once again I find myself thinking along the same lines as Mark Hannah. I guess great minds think alike...

Anyway, I think that Quintillian is much too hard on the rhetorical use of what somebody else might have said, or mimesis. To me, there are two kinds of genius in the rhetorcial arts: those of inventive (Epistemic)ways of making knowledge, and Interpretive which is relating to, involving, or providing an interpretation or explanation of knowledge. Both can be equally valuable ways for students to use writing.