L’enseignement du grec et du latin : le paradoxe du mouvement

Abstract

The loss of interest in classical languages amongst young people is the subject of this article, which is based on remarks regarding the same phenomenon observed in the teaching of rhetoric in the Greek world of the first centuries AD. Indeed, although this period was particularly prosperous as regards rhetoric, we find that, according to some texts, teachers found it difficult to persuade their students to attend classes. Despite the prestige of this curriculum, the students were much more attracted by many leisure activities with which they were presented. Famous orators like Aelius Aristides or Libanius tried to demonstrate to their students that the effort requested by rhetorical exercises was much more beneficial. However, as new trends appeared, such as pantomime, the two rhetoricians confronted each other. The former, Aristides, stayed impervious to this kind of show. The latter, Libanius, was more open to it while keeping his standards as a backdrop. Adjusting to the times, but without demagogy, is with no doubt the attitude we must adopt today to preserve and develop the teaching of classical languages.

Keywords

• rhetoric
• Second Sophistry
• education
• student
• studies
• pantomime