Progymnasmata

Progymnasmata (Greek "fore-exercises", Latin praeexercitamina) are rhetorical exercises gradually leading the student to familiarity with the elements of rhetoric, in preparation for their own practice speeches (gymnasmata, "exercises") and ultimately their own orations.

Both Hermogenes of Tarsus and Aelius Festus Aphthonius wrote treatises containing progymnasmata (in the second and third century CE, respectively).

The traditional course of rhetoric gave the progymnasmata in this order:

1. Fable
2. Narrative
3. Chreia
4. Proverb
5. Refutation
6. Confirmation
7. Commonplace
8. Encomium
9. Vituperation
10. Comparison
11. Impersonation
12. Description
13. Thesis
14. Defend or attack a law

Once these exercises were mastered, the student would begin preparation of a gymnasmatum, a full oration on a topic given a specific context.

Progymnasmata is now taught in today's Classical Christian Academies and teaches the student how to write these works so they may go on to Gymnasmatum.

External links

• The Progymnasmata of Aphthonius

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