Encomium is the formal practice of writing or speaking words in praise of someone or something. In ancient Greece, it was used as a literary device by rhetoricians and poets. The Encomium of Helen by Gorgias serves as a defense of Helen’s actions and praises language’s ability to persuade. Isocrates criticizes Gorgias’ methods and advocates for the proper use of rhetoric. Modern examples include speeches at award ceremonies and endorsements of political candidates.
The term “encomium” has several definitions. It is Latin through the Ancient Greek word encomion and, in broad definitions, is the formal practice of writing or speaking words in praise of someone or something. Such eulogies have also been written about imaginary people and animals, so the definition requires some exploration.
In ancient Greece there were essentially two types of encomium. One were songs or poems composed by poets in praise of a specific thing. The other was a specific literary device used by rhetoricians and teachers of rhetoric. Students who studied rhetoric in the schools led by the Sophists, or the competing schools of Isocrates and Aristotle, learned both to create and to praise in formal form, just as the modern student of writing today learns to construct essays and speeches. This tradition continued with Roman rhetoricians and poets, and people will still find them today, some delivered and some written on a variety of subjects. They are often considered distinct from eulogies, because they praise living people.
One of the first and most striking examples of classical Greece is the Encomium of Helen attributed to the sophist Gorgias. In reality, as most sophistic writings say, eulogy of Helen serves an entirely different purpose than actually praising the woman (of Trojan War fame). Instead it serves as Helen’s defense, not quite the intent of praise in general, and becomes praise of language’s ability to persuade. Helen cannot be blamed for running away with Paris because she or she was persuaded by her wonderful ability to speak about her or was under the influence of a powerful love.
Indeed, Gorgias’ methods of praising Helen are harshly and perhaps rightly criticized by the great writing master Isocrates, in his work called Helen. His work again fails to praise Helen and he attacks Gorgias for advocating the use of speech as a powerful drug that can persuade people to act against their own best interests. Neither work sufficiently serves as genuine praise of Helen, but both works serve as a praise of language and thoughts about how rhetoric should be used. Many praises are more direct, such as the writings of St. Paul on the subject of love.
A speech given about an actor receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award usually doesn’t turn into a speech about something else entirely. Poems that celebrate the beauty of a person, place, or thing can be open to multiple interpretations, but often focus strictly on praising something. Articles that are a presentation of someone’s life and work, mostly someone still alive, feature the modern rhetorical commendation. People only have to look until the superdelegate endorsements of presidential candidates to see a living, breathing example today.
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