Defining rhetoric: Sperone Speroni’s „Dell’arte oratoria” Cover Image

Definire la retorica: il „Dell’arte oratoria” di Sperone Speroni
Defining rhetoric: Sperone Speroni’s „Dell’arte oratoria”

Author(s): Teodoro Katinis
Subject(s): Cultural history, 16th Century, Rhetoric, Stylistics, Italian literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Sperone Speroni; Dell’arte oratoria; rhetoric; stylistic practice

Summary/Abstract: This contribution focuses on Sperone Speroni’s text Dell’arte oratoria (On the Oratory Art), one of his short treatises dedicated to rhetoric. The main aim is to define the different aspects of the text’s style and content that make it a relevant source for exploring Speroni’s rhetorical thought. Combining classical sources with his original perspective, Speroni attempts to support rhetorical art by using rhetorical means. This text was not meant to be read by the public and it reveals an erratic argumentation looking for efficacious definitions of oratory to defend it from its detractors.

  • Issue Year: 5/2023
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 1-16
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Italian