Rhetoric and poetry have been linked for millenia. Aristotle treated both subjects in works that are still read today. For much of history rhetoric has been considered to be superior to poetry. In section XVI, Cicero declares oratory to be superior to poetry, “the poet is very near akin to the orator…almost his equal.” Cicero was an orator himself, so his opinion is not an unbiased one. Perhaps Cicero’s contemporaries Lucretius or Catullus would argue that Poeta est maior oratore-the poet is greater than the orator. Socrates criticized writing as being a tool for reminding, not remembering. The Romans may have had a similar fear of the written technology and that may lead to Cicero’s belief of rhetoric’s superiority.

In modern times, English departments treat rhetoric as an afterthought. Professors treat poetics as the only area worthy of their study, while rhetoric and composition are left for grad students and untenured faculty. Poetics are high culture, and rhetoric has become a dirty word.