Menander's Commentary
Menander's Commentary
This chapter investigates the nature of Menander’s commentary on Demosthenes by examining selected material from the Demosthenes scholia. It is shown that the commentary was primarily didactic and practical in its orientation, and appears to be based on lectures to advanced students of rhetoric. Menander’s main interest was in analysing Demosthenes’ rhetorical techniques, especially his techniques of argument, and he repeatedly draws attention to features which his pupils can imitate in their own practice. A more detailed examination of Menander’s treatment of three of Demosthenes’ speeches (On the False Embassy, Against Meidias, and Fourth Philippic) shows that his rhetorical analysis was sophisticated, though sometimes based on questionable interpretations, and that his manner of exposition was sometimes unnecessarily confusing.
Keywords: Demosthenes scholia, Demosthenes, On the False Embassy, Against Meidias, Fourth Philippic
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