English 491: History of Literary Criticism Quintilian Study Questions Al Drake | 520 Hum. Tu/Th 1:30-2:30 | ajdrake@ajdrake.com Institutio Oratia (circa 96 C.E.) 1. How does Quintilian define the word "trope," and what uses does he suggest that tropes have? (158-59) 2. What are the main kinds of metaphor? What is the best way to use metaphor, and what are the worst abuses of it? (158-61) 3. How does Quintilian distinguish synecdoche from metaphor? (160 bottom) 4. How does Quintilian distinguish tropes from figures? What is the key distinction? What is a figure, as you see it discussed in Quintilian's discussion of irony on 166-67? (162-67) 5. In examining the ideal philosophical training for an orator, what relationship between virtue and public speaking does Quintilian assert? Against what school of thought or what tendency in politics does he argue? (167-71) 6. Do you agree or disagree with Quintilian's claims about the connection between public speaking and private morality? Explain. (general question) 7. Although Quintilian wrote during the reign of the anything but ideal emperor Domitian, public speaking was still held in high esteem. Do you think that skilful public speaking is vital to modern American politics? Do you find that our politicians speak well generally, or do you find many of them disappointing in this regard? Explain. (general question) Edition: The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch. New York: Norton, 2001. ISBN: 0393974294.
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