Of Conversation by Madeleine de Scudery

1. Influences of Cicero, Quintilian, and Aristotle

Modern critics debated the nature of cooperation between brother and sister seemed to current consensus, it seems that Cicero and Quintilian's famous collaboration was skillfully depicted in those conversations. The main contribution came from Georges on Artem Clelie, who has been using it already created and marketable name. Since 1661 Madeleine works were published anonymously, but they were accepted by all as she is (www.h-france.net). This year, they released a single volume Celinte, Nouvelle Premiere. In this, as in 1667 under the name Nouvelle d'Matilda Aguilar, conversations were a small part of Artyom and Clelie was much more important (Aronson, 58). They will prevail in the Madeleine wrote: La Promenade de Versailles in 1669 and the (signed philosophical discussions, some of the early novels), a series of five collections of interviews published 1680-1692. All La Promenade was dedicated to Louis XIV, a modest pension, which the king was granted in 1683 can be offered.

Despite the criticism, Scudery until the end of his life to continue to hold a respected position in the literary world of Paris and beyond, she received an award from the Academie Francaise, she was elected to the literary Padua Academy, and their collections of interviews were used to be, in 1691 as texts school for girls king aristocratic in Saint-Cyr (Aronson, 58).

In these conversations, group discussions of fictional characters, a wide range of topics. The editors have chosen excerpts on this subject a good conversation, wit and writing letters. These calls were a common format for early modern writers and Scudéry setting must be adjusted to advise women on manners and entertainment in good company. Many of her advice is amazingly helpful, the modern audience. For example, in the part entitled "The talks too much or too little", Scudéry notes that "there is one thing, in a language universally condemned by all, and that ambiguity and pompous nonsense, because who really want to hear that understand what he said and who says you want to understand himself "(p. 109). In his article about writing letters of condolence, said Scudéry, that "the best thing you can do in such cases, letters of comfort is very short, to be reasonable simply requires that you show the person you're writing that you share his or her grief not long complaints or praise the great and without the use of all morality and all the rhetoric is useless" (Horowitz, 19).

. Finally, there is a wonderful exchange in the play "The Vita" in which characters discuss whether it is either a permit or making fun of funny people (pp.123-24). This interview offers a fascinating view of contemporary discussions of humor and sensitivity to the feelings of people.

Equally telling are the elements of a conversation that Scudéry reveal views on social order and the monarchy, the ideas can be more alien to modern audiences. Much of the material, "The Wit" is in praise of Louis XIV was dedicated as the ideal ...