Reading Response Pg. 115-135:

I think it’s interesting how classic rhetoric was on the brink of extinction in some places in Europe. I could only imagine if this actually happen how not only Europe would be shaped but how the whole world would be shaped. Later in the passage they stated that some “educated” people believed that Greek and Roman classics were part of a pagan past and that “rhetoric was suspect”. I can understand why some people would disagree with rhetoric and possibly those who use it but to go as far as relating it to pagans might be a little too far. I felt that the progression/acceptance of rhetoric was for the greater good. Rhetoric first moved into the churches around St. Augustine’s time. He was also a bishop for over 30 years which I think requires some type of rhetoric to persuade those unsaved listen of the word of god.

Reflective Tag:

The most important message I got out of this reading was the three rhetorical arts in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Though only one of the arts is preaching, I can see how this can apply to modern culture as far as religions go. I think that a religions success is based on the three things. The first, preaching, which is an evident because you need someone to convey the information. Maintaining records, like writing the bible of that religion, would be letter writing. Writing poetry, I don’t think, is not actually writing poetry in this case but the emotional side of things such as spirit and faith of that religion.