Previous
Dramatic Irony
Definition of Ethos
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Ethos is an argument that appeals to... read full definition
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Ethos is... read full definition
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective... read full definition
Book 3
Explanation and Analysis—Elders:
On both the Achaean and Trojan side, retired fighters and aging mentors play an important role in strategizing and providing support. While the elder characters don't typically participate in the fighting, they're valued for their ability to think, speak, and advise. In their speeches, they make use of a range of rhetorical strategies—primarily ethos, but also pathos and logos—to sway the minds of the younger men. Through the motif of elders and old age, Homer shows that youth and physical strength aren't the only attributes that command respect in the war.
Menelaus sums up this view in Book 3, when he agrees to a one-on-one duel with Paris:
The minds of the younger men are always flighty,
but let an old man stand his ground among them,
one who can see the days behind, the days ahead—
that is the best hope for peace, for both our armies.
Related Themes:
