Demetrius on forcible style

NOTES

• Dionysius of Halicarnassus conceived the intermediate type of style not as a type between the extremes (μέσος), but as a mixture (μικτός) of the extremes, although he does apply the word μέσος to describe this type of style. Cp. J.V. Cronjé, Dionysius of Halicarnassus: De Demosthene: A critical appraisal of the status quaestionis, followed by a glossary of the technical terms, Spudasmata, Hildesheim: Georg Olms Verlag, 1986, p. 200.
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• Cp. F. Quadlbauer, ‘Die Genera Dicendi bis Plinius d.J.’, Wienerstudien 71, 1958, pp. 55–111.
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• All references to primary literature in this article will be from the Peri Hermeneias, except when mentioned otherwise.
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• D.M. Schenkeveld, Studies in Demetrius ‘On Style’, Amsterdam: Hakkert, 1964, p. 59: ‘… to strike the audience, to impress in a particular way.’
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• One should not identify his view with that of Dionysius of Halicarnassus or Hermogenes. In the case of Dionysius δεινότης could be described as ‘mastership of all styles’ (Schenkeveld, op. cit. p. 59, n. 4); in the case of Hermogenes ‘appropriate application of all the different types of style’ (Hermogenes, On types of style, 369 and 378).
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• Cp. Schenkeveld, op. cit. p. 65.
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• Like fear, cp. parr. 8 and 283, and anger, cp. par. 247.
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• All these application prove that D.M. Schenkeveld is wrong in restricting the intention to fear and indignation. Obviously this would not fit the function mentioned first, i.e. that of debate or argumentation.
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• The reason for this can be related to the very object of the work of Demetrius: περ ὲρμηνείας: ὲρμηνεία only has to do with the way of expressing subject-matter—not subject-matter as well. (Cp. W. Kroll, ‘Rhetorik’, PWRE, Supplement VII, Col. 1079.)
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• The δεινότης will emerge, even if the way of expression does not do justice to the quality of the subject-matter: cp. 240: ταύτα πάντα δεινὰ ὸνόματα ὅντα καίτοι ὰσθενώς επὼν δεινὸς: ‘… and through using all these vigorous words he seems to be forcible, although he has spoken feebly.’
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• In Hellenistic times the prolixity of Isocrates was regarded the main feature of his style which demolished the forcefulness of his style. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus his sentences resembled a long meandering river, flowing through the ear like oil. It tended to lull the reader/listener to sleep rather than to capture his attention (De Demosthene 19–20).
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• Cp. Rhetorica 3.2.4: τούτο (i.e. λέγειν πεΦυκότως) γὰρ πιθανόν, έκείνο (i.e. λέγειν πεπλασμένως) δὲ τούναντίον. (Rhetorica 3.2.4.) (‘For naturalness is convincing, artificiality the reverse….’) Cp. Ps.-Longinus Περ ὔψους 16.4 as well.
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• With adverse effect: ‘… people think they are being got at and take offence, as they do at blended wines.’ (Aristotle, Rhetorica 3.2.4.)
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• The importance of figures has already been mentioned above, cp. p. 3.
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• Cp. J.V. Cronjé, op. cit. pp. 138–141.
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• Granted, some of the figures of speech, like the metaphora, which he does discuss as figures of speech, have to do with the.έκλογὴ τὼν όνομάτων.
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• Demetrius does, however, permit picturesque language (276) and even elaborate language (277) under certain curcumstances: in the first case one should always keep the subject-matter in mind (276), whereas in the case of elaborate language one should be very discreet (277). Ready wit (254) and sarcasm (262) can also be applied, and even obscurity is allowed (254).
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• Demetrius explains how διαδεχόμενοι represents a whole sentence, although being only one word (93).
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• Cp. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, De compositione verborum.
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• Cp. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, De Demosthene 38.
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• According to Demetrius the last position is the most striking (249).
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• This is the view of D.M. Schenkeveld, op. cit. p. 64, as well: ‘The disjointed style… fits better the forceful character as we cannot but conclude from par. 301.’
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• If, indeed, abruptness is a feature of forcible style in modern languages as well. Whatever the case, the New King James Version yielded to the temptation to insert a conjunction between the last two cola: ‘… and pray…’, thus diminishing the impact of the last imperative.
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• Cp. A.H. Snyman, ‘The period in Demetrius “On style”’. Unpublished paper delivered at a seminar on New Testament style, University of Pretoria, 1982.
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• In fact, if the keyword can be predicted, all forcible effect can be completely nullified (15).
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• Periods formed by many kola are artificially constructed and lack force—cp. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, De Demosthene 19–20.
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• Not only the length of the sentences make a contribution to the force of the passage, but also the abruptness (no conjunction being used) and rhetorical question. Cp. D.F. Tolmie, 'n Stylanalise van Paulus se brief aan die Galasiërs. MA dissertation, University of the Orange Free State, 1985, pp. 178–180.
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• Cp. Demetrius, Peri Hermeneias 258 as well.
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• J.V. Cronjé, ‘Aspects of sound effects in Greek prose style: clashings of sounds’. Unpublished paper delivered at a seminar on the style of the New Testament, University of Pretoria, 1982.
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• Cp. 269 as well; in 193 Demetrius clearly distinguishes between written and spoken literature.
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• R. Volkmann, Die Rhetorik der Griechen und Römer, Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1963, p. 491.
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• Ibid. pp. 491–498.
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• J. Martin, Antike Rhetorik, München: C.H. Beck, 1974, pp. 284–288.
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• H.L. Lausberg, Handbuch der literarische Rhetorik, München: Max Hueber, 1960, pp. 379–384.
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• Cp. examples quoted above, pp. 8 and 10.
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• Cp. Tolmie, op. cit. p. 184.
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