ONE EXAMPLE OF EKPHRASIS IN THE FORM OF LETTER (PLINY THE YOUNGER, V 6) Cover Image

ЈБДAН ПРИМЈЕР EКФРAСE У ФОРМИ ПИСМA (ПЛИНИЈЕ МЛAЂИ, V 6)
ONE EXAMPLE OF EKPHRASIS IN THE FORM OF LETTER (PLINY THE YOUNGER, V 6)

Author(s): Slobodanka S. Prtija
Subject(s): Theory of Literature, Rhetoric
Published by: Матица српска
Keywords: Ekphrasis; Pliny the Younger;

Summary/Abstract: Ekphrasis was very important as a type of preparatory exercise in schools of rhetoric (кфрастгј, descriptio). In ancient prose writing as well as poetry, ekphrasis was used to describe the morning, seasons, faces, objects, buildings, works of art, etc., and it took the form of either a short independent prose piece or a passage in a longer piece of writing. The letter V 6 by Pliny the Younger is representative of the style of ekphra- sis in it that it demonstrates the particular order of instructions proposed by schools of rhetoric. In this letter, Pliny combines several descriptions — the description of the season, of a „pleasant place” (locus amoenus) and of a building (the villa at Tusci) — which is also a typical feature of the expression based on preparatory exercises in schools of rhetoric.

  • Issue Year: 56/2008
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 19-24
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: Serbian