Notes on Classical Rhetoric and Public Speaking

Introduction

• Importance of public speaking in ancient Greece
  • All educated citizens participated, not just lawyers, politicians, or celebrities.

Training for Oratory

• Example of a teacher who trained by filling his mouth with pebbles
  • Aim: Improve elocution for clearer, more articulate speaking.
  • No microphones; clear and loud voice was essential.

Technologies of Amplification

• Ancient Greeks developed amphitheaters
  • Designed for large audiences (tens of thousands).

The Five Canons of Classical Rhetoric

• Emphasis on rhetorical knowledge in education
• The Five Canons:
  1. Invention
  2. Arrangement
  3. Style
  4. Memory
  5. Delivery
• Mnemonic: MAIDS to remember the canons.
• Invention: Not necessarily about originality; often involved imitation of famous speeches.

Memory in Rhetoric

• Oral culture emphasized memorization
• Techniques for memorization included:
  • Palaces of Memory/Theatres of Memory: Association of speech parts with locations in an imagined geography.
  • Students visualized rooms in a house to recall parts of speeches.
• Resurgence in modern times; used in executive training for corporate leaders.

Body Language and Oratory

• Body language was crucial even before video technologies
  • 19th-century oratorical manuals included diagrams for gestures and poses.
• Audiences could be physically remote from a speaker, impacting communication.

Historical Context

• Lincoln's First Inaugural Address:
  • Delivered in front of an unfinished Capitol dome.
  • Stereoscopic photographs as early 3D technology.
• Comparison with modern public speaking:
  • Roosevelt's fireside chats via radio.
  • Modern presidents utilize television and social media (e.g., YouTube) for more intimate public addresses.