The Three Genres of Oratory

In his 'Rhetoric,' Aristotle (4th c. BCE) sorted all public speaking into three genres. Judicial (forensic) oratory belongs to the law court, arguing about past acts to establish justice. Deliberative oratory belongs to the assembly, advising on future action and what will benefit the city. Epideictic oratory belongs to ceremonies, offering praise or blame. Each genre, in Aristotle's scheme, has its own audience, its own slice of time, and its own goal. The classification went on to anchor rhetorical education from the Greek schools through Rome and into the medieval and Renaissance curriculum.