The Three Genres of Oratory
Aristotle argued that every speech is one of three kinds: a courtroom accusation, a piece of political advice, or a ceremonial tribute.
In his 'Rhetoric,' Aristotle (4th c. BCE) sorted all public speaking into three genres. Judicial (forensic) oratory belongs to the law court, arguing about past acts to establish justice. Deliberative oratory belongs to the assembly, advising on future action and what will benefit the city. Epideictic oratory belongs to ceremonies, offering praise or blame. Each genre, in Aristotle's scheme, has its own audience, its own slice of time, and its own goal. The classification went on to anchor rhetorical education from the Greek schools through Rome and into the medieval and Renaissance curriculum.
How it traveled
- ExordiaAthens · -349explains
- Against TimarchusAthens · -346explains
- On the False EmbassyAthens · -343explains
- On the EmbassyAthens · -343explains
- AntidosisAthens · -338explains
- RhetoricChalcis · -335explains
- On the CrownAthens · -330explains
- Against MeidiasAthens · -322explains
- Divisiones AristoteleaeChalcis · -322explains
- De InventioneFormiae · -84explains
- In C. VerremFormiae · -70explains
- Pro A. CluentioFormiae · -66explains
- On OratoryFormiae · -55explains
- OratorFormiae · -46explains
- De Optimo Genere OratorumFormiae · -46explains
- Partitiones OratoriaeFormiae · -43explains
- Institutio OratoriaRome · 95explains
- Vitae decem oratorumChaeronea · 120explains
- Adversus MathematicosAlexandria · 190explains
- Περὶ ἰδεῶν λόγου—explains
- In Aristotelis artem rhetoricam commentarium—explains
- Ars Rhetorica—explains
- Περὶ ἐπιδεικτικῶνLaodicea on the Lycusexplains
- De Demosthenis dictioneRomeexplains
- Ars Rhetorica [attributed]Smyrnaexplains
- Historical LibrarySyracuse (Sicily)explains
- De LysiaRomeexplains
- De IsocrateRomeexplains
- Scholia in Iliadem—explains
- Διαίρεσις τῶν ἐπιδεικτικῶνLaodicea on the Lycusexplains
Key passages(20)
In Aristotelis artem rhetoricam commentarium · Anonymi in Aristotelis Artem Rhetoricam
In Aristotelis artem rhetoricam commentarium · Anonymi in Aristotelis Artem Rhetoricam
In Aristotelis artem rhetoricam commentarium · Anonymi in Aristotelis Artem Rhetoricam
Ars Rhetorica [attributed] · Aelius Aristides
Ars Rhetorica [attributed] · Aelius Aristides
Fragmenta Logica et Physica · Chrysippus
De Optimo Genere Oratorum · Cicero