Cicero, the beginnings of eloquence in Rome and the studium di(s)cendi (de orat. 1, 13-16)

  • Francesca Boldrer Università di Macerata
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13135/2532-5353/10902

Abstract

The article examines Cicero’s excursus on the beginnings of eloquence in Rome in the preface to the first book of De oratore (1, 13-16). The analysis highlights both positive and critical aspects in the studium of young Romans (among whom Cicero includes traces of his own autobiography). This studium as outlined by Cicero privileges a practical over a theoretical approach and is marked by the lack of a cultural component. Cicero, however, argues for the importance of such an ingredient to achieve excellence. Ultimately, the discussion has a bearing also on textual issues characterising the passage, specifically on the controversial use of either dicendi or discendi (studium) in de orat. 1, 14.

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Author Biography

Francesca Boldrer, Università di Macerata

Francesca Boldrer (francesca.boldrer@unimc.it) è docente di Lingua e letteratura latina presso l’Università di Macerata. È autrice di edizioni critiche e commentate, traduzioni (Epistulae ad familiares di Cicerone), contributi su Cicerone, poeti di età augustea (Virgilio, Properzio, Orazio, Ovidio), Scriptores rei rusticae (Columella, Catone, Varrone). Si occupa inoltre di aspetti culturali del mondo antico (multiculturalità, umorismo, humanitas), ricezione dei classici, rapporti interdisciplinari della letteratura latina.

Published
2024-06-30
How to Cite
Boldrer, F. (2024). Cicero, the beginnings of eloquence in Rome and the studium di(s)cendi (de orat. 1, 13-16). Ciceroniana On Line, 8(1), 121-137. https://doi.org/10.13135/2532-5353/10902
Issue
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2024): CICERONIANA ON LINE 2023 VIII, 1
Section
Papers

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