Freshman Composition in the Early Middle Ages: Epistolography and Rhetoric before the Ars dictaminis
Carol Dana Lanham
"Freshman Composition in the Early Middle Ages: Epistolography and Rhetoric before Ars dictaminis." Letter-writing was an acknowledged literary genre from classical times onward, thousands of letters-but little direct evidence for epistolary theory-survive Latin. Systematic transmission by teaching is, however, likely, long ars dictaminis appeared late 11th century. The progymnasmata, introductory exercises rhetoric, included ethopoeia, speech character. Two Greek treatises, Cassiodorus, Alberic Monte Cassino associate ethopoeia with letter-writing. Several formulas reflect ethopoeia-theory later appear dictaminal scattered classroom instruction letter-writing appears medieval sources. Structural changes curriculum transferred responsibility progymnasmata rhetoric teachers, who aimed to produce accomplished public speakers, grammatici, thus added formal study prose that poetry. In centuries-long transition oral culture one dependent on writing, written letter replaced spoken declamation as primary vehicle practice composition. sequence survived West become immediate ancestor dictaminis, plain style recommended Latin letters still reigns composition handbooks.
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