Imitatio: Reflection Essay

Hannah Hollmann

360.01

B Condon

Sept. 27, 2011

Imitatio Reflection

After undergoing the various stages of this assignment, I learned first hand that rhetoric, especially in the manner that the ancient rhetoricians employed it, has a lot more to it than writing and memorizing speeches. Oration is an art form; the various tropes, schema and language are the brush and the paints, and a particularly effective communicator can thusly be equated to an accomplished artist. Though much of the framework for how to write a speech is presented to the would-be rhetorician in the various works of Aristotle and other ancient rhetoricians, there are certain nuances to the processes that cannot be conveyed through text on a page. The first example of this would be the manner that the words are translated from the page through the means of performance. 

                                                                                                                      

For instance, when it comes to the actual execution of the speech, I learned through my experience with step two of the assignment (actually presenting the speech) and watching peers do the same, that a mastery of public speech is attained on a varying individual basis. Picturing yourself in front of a room full of people speaking naturally is the ideal case scenario, but it doesn't always work out that way. When it was my turn to present, I was convinced that I would do horribly. I thought I would choke, and my hands shook, but I ignored these reactions and went on with the speech. There was an element of comfort to be found in the notion that I was reciting my own words, and there were no surprises for me to stumble on, resulting in the verbal train wreck I was convinced would occur at some point. All of this considered I was surprised that the speech giving turned out to be easier for me than the actual process of writing it.                                  

For Step One of this assignment, it was difficult for me to select a speech to analyze because there were so many options available. I wanted to do something that would be challenging, but also make use of what I enjoyed and felt most comfortable with. Initially, I debated between the respective works of Cicero and Plutarch, but came to find that these speeches were not as accessible as the ones I found in The Iliad. I struggled with finding ways to adapt them to a modern subject, whereas with Agamemnon's speech the topic came naturally. The element of drama in Homer's words was more inspiring imitatio material than the meticulously sharp arguments of say, Cicero.
                     
The speech I selected for this assignment derived from Book Two of Homer's The Iliad. Delivered by King Agamemnon, the speech follows a council meeting and culminates in Agamemnon's insistence that the time has finally come to surrender because the Achean troops are much stronger than he anticipated. In adapting the topic to a modern situation, I chose to address the class as prominent figures in literature- but in lieu of assuaging their grievances against being forced to give up conquering Troy as a lost cause, I targeted Stephanie Meyer, the author of the Twilight books and her subversion of readers. In essence, Twilight and all of its product placement and attention garnered was the enemy due to the way it has particularly captivated the younger crowd. The encompassing nature of this pop culture phenomenon was equally equated to an unbeatable enemy in opposition to more substantial fiction in terms of my speech, and best utilized the tone of Agamemnon's delivery.                                               

           

The strength of Agamemnon's rhetoric lies in his consistent use of ethos appeals. Though he is king, he puts himself on the same level as his men with the use of "we." Further, he emphasizes that he has their best interests at heart by bringing up the families that are waiting for them at home. Though he was convinced that they would be victorious against the Trojans, he has come to see that there is no hope of bringing down Troy's walls, as he puts it: "They thwart my wish to smash down those sturdy walls of Troy." (57-58) He explains regretfully that the gods played a cruel trick in assuring him success when there was none to be had. Yes, the admission comes nine years into battle, but Agamemnon is earnest in his final call to retreat. By these means he delivers a speech that would greatly appeal to men who probably felt the order was a long time coming.   

                                                                                                                      

Additionally, the rhetorical stylistic device of an anastrophe is employed throughout Agamemnon's speech. Multiple times, phrases are presented in unusual wording, contributing to the flow of language and adding to Agamemnon's effectiveness as a rhetorician. In my own version of the speech, I sought to recreate this effect and took care to mimic Agamemnon's syntax. That said, where I took the most care in mimicking the rhetorical devices present in the original speech was in his various proclamations to the troops. Like Agamemnon, I attempted to make striking addresses to the audience, which I felt echoed the ethos that was established in Homer's work. For instance, Agamemnon begins with: "You Danaan warriors, comrades, companions of Ares, god of war, Zeus has entangled me in some really serious foolishness." (1-2). My own version went as follows: "You, literary titans, classics, members of the elite literature canon, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen- Stephanie Meyer, creator of Twilight has delivered us an unforeseeable blow." The parallel I believe was just as effective in practice as it was on the page, and it was by paying close attention to Agamemnon's stylistic devices and really getting a feel for the words and how I imagined they would be delivered that I truly found myself engaged with the assignment.  
                                                                                                                                 
Overall, this assignment gave me a newfound appreciation for the accomplishments of the ancient rhetors. Above all I learned firsthand that practicing what you preach is invaluable when it comes to effectively speaking to an audience.