Seeing through Words: Hypotyposis and its Functions

Alessandro Prato ()
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Alessandro Prato: University of Siena - Department of Political and Cognitive Social Sciences

International Journal of Teaching and Education, 2021, vol. 9, issue 1, 66-74

Abstract: This essay aims to analyse the rhetorical device of hypotyposis, which is held in great consideration both by ancient rhetoricians (Aristotle, Cicero and Quintilian) and by modern critics (Dumarsais, Barthes and Eco) for its capacity to portray visual experiences through the use of words, so as to make them as perceptible as if they were present before the reader’s eyes. The essay compares hypotyposis with other similar rhetorical strategies, such as description (an important moment in which the narratio is suspended and the author describes a place or character), evidentia, and especially ekphrasis - which comes from ekphràzo, meaning “describe, represent”, it is used with reference to the description of artworks - which all exercise a significant persuasive function, for they make arguments more tangible and convincing.

Keywords: elocutio; ekphrasis; descriptio; evidentia; representation; rhetoric (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I20 I21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aop:jijote:v:9:y:2021:i:1:p:66-74

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