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What features defined Ciceronian rhetoric?
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Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero, detail of a marble bust; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.
Ciceronian rhetoric is defined by its eclectic, versatile approach and its mastery of the "periodic" style, which balanced phrases and integrated subordinate clauses into complex, rhythmic wholes. Rather than adhering to a single school of thought, Cicero blended various styles, believing that an orator should adapt their delivery to the subject matter and the audience.12
Key features of his rhetorical technique include:
- Rhythm and Cadence: He meticulously studied the rhythms of speech, particularly in the closing cadences of phrases, to maximize their appeal to an audience.13
- Emotional Power: Cicero held that public crowds were often swayed more by emotion than by pure argument. He was highly skilled at rousing feelings of anger or pity to influence juries and political assemblies.214
- Broad Intellectual Foundation: He argued that an orator must be grounded in the liberal arts, including philosophy, literature, history, and legal expertise.12
- The Five Offices: He utilized the five traditional disciplines of rhetoric: invention, disposition, elocution, memory, and delivery.5
Ultimately, his humanitas and ability to weave complex thoughts with clarity transformed the Latin language into a sophisticated literary medium.16