Essay 2 Paradoxical Encomium
English 1101 Fall 2011
Due Date: September 30 for MWF classes, October 3 for MW class
The assignment:
An encomium is a form of praise discourse that comes from ancient Greece and Rome. When well-known generals returned to the city after conquering the barbarian hordes, they were greeted with huge parades and parties in their honor where some dignitary would stand and give an encomium for their hero.
Originally, an encomium was part of the rhetorical assignments designed to teach young Greek (and Roman) boys how to write and speak. Collectively called the progymnasmata, these exercises started with the boys writing short stories or fables and became more complicated as they progressed in school.
Our version is praise gone horribly wrong. You can, of course, be serious if you want. However, this assignment is designed to be fun. The only rule of content is that you must include all of the required 6 parts in your writing in the order given. The idea of a paradoxical encomium is to praise something not really praiseworthy. Nose hair, for example. Ah, the humble and unappreciated nose hair thoughtlessly trimmed and cut by millions of men (and women) worldwide. Did you ever think of what you would do without those humble little strands? You’d get sick. How about the footstool? Did you ever stop to appreciate all the service the poor little footstool gives without ever asking for thanks in return?
Shakespeare certainly understood the value of a twisted phrase. His speech written for Mark Anthony and spoken over Caesar’s body pretended to extol the virtues of Brutus, but the clever phrases were designed to turn the crowd against him.
There have been wonderful encomiums written praising toilet brushes, make-up, Spam, toast sweat—you name it. What little items in your life are praiseworthy and haven’t been fully appreciated? Write about them!
Encomium:
2. Origins/Ancestry: Praise the subject’s family or place of birth. Also one can mention extraordinary circumstances, omens or dreams which foretell or attend the “birth.”
3. Early Indications of Character: Write about your subject’s special talents and early accomplishments. Especially helpful are instances when your subject made moral choices indicative of good character.
4. War and Peace: Write about times of conflict and struggle which brought out your subject’s positive character traits, and about times your subject resolved conflicts in positive ways. Remember that the key virtues in the classical tradition are wisdom, courage, justice and temperance.
5. Comparison: Compare your subject with others whose greatness in general or whose specific virtues are widely known and admired.
6. Conclusion: Include three parts:
a. Summarize your subject’s virtues and accomplishments
b. Invite others to be more like the person or thing you praise in this essay.
c. Close with a prayer or a blessing. (i.e. May the _____gods bless...)
(With special thanks to Janet Lucas, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and her friend, Dr. Dana Elder, Eastern Washington University.)
A Helpful Hint:
As you work on your Paradoxical Encomium,
remember that this is really a group of 6 different writing directives/styles
all operating within the overreaching framework of argument. The opening is the
introduction that sets up the argument. Although you are not worthy to speak of
the item, it is worthy of praise. The 4 sections that follow set up the support:
The origins section is a mini narrative; the early character is definition and
example; the war and peace is cause and effect; and comparison/contrast is just
what it says. Finally, the benediction is a closing argument that asks the
audience to join you in this obviously warranted praise. Remember argument
logic: if A is true and B is true and C is true, then the only outcome must be
D.
Modern writing requirements:
Appropriate, lofty language
Consistent choice of pronouns--choose a voice and stay there
12-point font
Double-spaced
Clear type, Times New Roman or Arial or equivalent
MLA format
Present tense unless you are clearly referring to past events using proper transitions for clarification
3-page minimum (at least one sentence on page 4) 4 page maximum Please don't play with spacing and margins, just push yourself to write a little more.
Submission to turnitin.com
Final presentation in paper folder: The final draft and at least 2, heavily edited, rough drafts, peer review comments, and the turnitin receipt
The paper is due at the beginning of class on Friday, Sept, 30 for the MWF classes, Monday, October 3 for the MW class. Remember that you are allowed only one late paper this semester. Please consult your syllabus for the details and rules regarding this extension.