Ekphrasis, Imagination and Persuasion in Ancient Rhetorical Theory and Practice

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Title: Ekphrasis, Imagination and Persuasion in Ancient Rhetorical Theory and Practice
Description: This is a study of ekphrasis, the art of making listeners and readers'see'in their imagination through words alone, as taught in ancient rhetorical schools and as used by Greek writers of the Imperial period (2nd-6th centuries CE). The author places the practice of ekphrasis within its cultural context, emphasizing the importance of the visual imagination in ancient responses to rhetoric, poetry and historiography. By linking the theoretical writings on ekphrasis with ancient theories of imagination, emotion and language, she brings out the persuasive and emotive function of vivid language in the literature of the period. This study also addresses the contrast between the ancient and the modern definitions of the term ekphrasis, underlining the different concepts of language, literature and reader response that distinguish the ancient from the modern approach. In order to explain the ancient understanding of ekphrasis and its place within the larger system of rhetorical training, the study includes a full analysis of the ancient technical sources (rhetorical handbooks, commentaries) which aims to make these accessible to non-specialists. The concluding chapter moves away from rhetorical theory to consider the problems and challenges involved in'turning listeners into spectators'with a particular focus on the role of ekphrasis within ancient fiction. Attention is also paid to texts that lie at the intersection of the modern and ancient definitions of ekphrasis, such as Philostratos'Imagines and the many ekphraseis of buildings and monuments to be found in Late Antique literature.
Authors: Ruth Webb
Resource Type: eBook.
Subjects: Ekphrasis, Rhetoric, Ancient
Categories: HISTORY / General, HISTORY / Ancient / General
Database: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
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  – Type: ebook-pdf
  – Type: ebook-epub
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  Availability: 0
Header DbId: nlebk
DbLabel: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
An: 280457
RelevancyScore: 1025
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: eBook
PubTypeId: ebook
PreciseRelevancyScore: 1024.62744140625
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  Data: Ekphrasis, Imagination and Persuasion in Ancient Rhetorical Theory and Practice
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  Data: This is a study of ekphrasis, the art of making listeners and readers'see'in their imagination through words alone, as taught in ancient rhetorical schools and as used by Greek writers of the Imperial period (2nd-6th centuries CE). The author places the practice of ekphrasis within its cultural context, emphasizing the importance of the visual imagination in ancient responses to rhetoric, poetry and historiography. By linking the theoretical writings on ekphrasis with ancient theories of imagination, emotion and language, she brings out the persuasive and emotive function of vivid language in the literature of the period. This study also addresses the contrast between the ancient and the modern definitions of the term ekphrasis, underlining the different concepts of language, literature and reader response that distinguish the ancient from the modern approach. In order to explain the ancient understanding of ekphrasis and its place within the larger system of rhetorical training, the study includes a full analysis of the ancient technical sources (rhetorical handbooks, commentaries) which aims to make these accessible to non-specialists. The concluding chapter moves away from rhetorical theory to consider the problems and challenges involved in'turning listeners into spectators'with a particular focus on the role of ekphrasis within ancient fiction. Attention is also paid to texts that lie at the intersection of the modern and ancient definitions of ekphrasis, such as Philostratos'Imagines and the many ekphraseis of buildings and monuments to be found in Late Antique literature.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Classifications:
      – Code: 808.0481
        Scheme: ddc
        Type: prePub
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Ekphrasis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rhetoric, Ancient
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Ekphrasis, Imagination and Persuasion in Ancient Rhetorical Theory and Practice
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ruth Webb
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ruth Webb
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2009
            – D: 04
              M: 02
              Type: profile
              Y: 2014
          Identifiers:
            – Type: isbn-print
              Value: 9780754661252
            – Type: isbn-print
              Value: 9781138247819
            – Type: isbn-electronic
              Value: 9781317145356
            – Type: isbn-electronic
              Value: 9781317145363
            – Type: isbn-electronic
              Value: 9781315578996
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Ekphrasis, Imagination and Persuasion in Ancient Rhetorical Theory and Practice
              Type: main
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