Grammenidis, Evangelos; (2003) Rhetoric in the ancient Greek novel: Chariton, Achilleus Tatios and Heliodoros. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THESIS: Although the use of rhetoric in ancient Greek novel was recognised early on in modern scholarship, this important aspect of the ancient novels has never been extensively discussed. In this thesis the rhetorical dimension of three Greek novels is given principal attention; the investigation is focused on the use of rhetoric by three novelists representing three different centuries. In these novels we trace rhetorical elements back to various sources, such as rhetorical handbooks used for teaching or parallels found in actual speeches, we attempt a definition, analysis, and illustration of the most prominent rhetorical features and show how and to what extent rhetoric is employed by the novelists.The first part investigates the rhetorical dimensions of the courtroom speeches and their relationship with rhetorical principles of forensic oratory. In chapter one we examine the use of rhetoric by Chariton who seems to show a good degree of awareness of theoretical forensic principles and makes a surprisingly extensive use of rhetoric. In chapter two we show with the assistance of various rhetorical handbooks that Achilleus Tatios' speeches hide an enormous amount of careful rhetorical planning. In chapter three the discussion of Heliodoros' use of forensic oratory shows that he uses selectively advanced rhetorical techniques and transforms them into literary tools by putting them at the service of literature. The fourth chapter attempts an investigation into the use of rhetoric in the fragments with the main aim to show that the use of rhetoric is not coincidental in the three authors chosen for this investigation.The second part looks at rhetoric in the novel from a different point of view. Chapter one investigates the possibility of direct influence of classical rhetoric on the novel. The second chapter examines the way rhetorical exercises taught at the highest and last level of education influenced different sections of the works of the novelists. The third part illustrates the extensive use of epideictic oratory in all three novels and shows that epideictic oratory in them is greatly influenced by contemporary rhetorical studies (from progymnasmata to declamation). Finally, the fourth part explores the creative manner in which rhetoric was used by the three novelists and the issue of their readership. In conclusion, the result of this study is that rhetoric is much more extensively used in the novels than has been appreciated until now; these works presuppose rhetorical training of their authors who derived much of their inspiration and writing abilities from close contact with rhetorical studies.

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