A Journey to Aristotle’s Rhetoric: From Greece to Venus and Back Again

This will be an introductory course to the classical rhetorical tradition, a beginning survey—from Homer to Aristotle. Our fundamental question is that of definition: What is rhetoric? In order to answer that question, the course will cover classical informal rhetoric as found in ancient texts, formal rhetoric as created by celebrated Greek rhetors, and classical rhetorical theory as outlined by Aristotle. Alongside the ancient texts, students will engage C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy for modern examples of speaking and writing well. Throughout the course, our modern understanding of rhetoric will be scrutinized and judged against the foundations of this classical art.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, the learner will be able to:

1. Give a working and personal definition of rhetoric.
2. Identify the basic elements and structures of classical rhetorical pieces.
3. Recognize and mimic classical rhetorical schemes and tropes.
4. Identify rhetoric as a culminating art which finds its basis in Truth—an art which we as Christians have a responsibility to command, just as Christ did.

Texts:

• Homer’s Iliad, Fagles’ Translation (ISBN: 978-0140275360)
• Gorgias’ Encomium of Helen (PDF provided by teacher)
• Plato’s Gorgias (PDF provided by teacher)
• Plato’s Phaedrus (PDF provided by teacher)
• Aristotle’s Rhetoric, Roberts’ Translation (ISBN: 978-0486437934)
• C.S. Lewis’ Perelandra (ISBN: 978-0743234917)
• C.S. Lewis’ That Hideous Strength (ISBN: 978-0743234924)