In thinking back to Book IV of De Doctrina Christiana, I felt that St. Augustine stayed true to
many of the things that he talked about and said were necessary for a Christian
Teacher in his sermon around the time of Lent. In his teachings Augustine says that it is the duty of the teacher to “rouse
the hearers” so that the listeners are attentive or intrigued enough in the speech
before delivering what they want their audience to learn. Augustine
accomplishes this well in the first paragraph of the sermon using intriguing
thoughts and ending on a metaphor, comparing the differences of anger and
hatred. This really gets his audience, as I did me, interested in what he is
about to teach. This pleasing style of speech is aimed at getting an audience interested
before heaping on the instruction or exhortation.
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| ...St. Augustine would agree. |
Another point St. Augustine made in De Doctrina Christiana, which he felt was important for the
Christian teacher, was that clarity was of utmost importance, but not at the
cost of giving up eloquence. From my own experience, this can be a very difficult
thing to do. Often times the cost to be very clear is to cut out much of the “fluff”
and decorum of speech. All throughout his speech, Augustine accomplishes a
wonderful middle ground, with clear ideas and thoughts backed up by powerful
scriptures and beautiful language. One example of this is found in paragraph 6
where Augustine addresses people whose offenders have chosen not to apologize.
With the use of a story like scenario that anyone in his audience could apply
to themselves he walks them through their situation, eloquently teaching the
doctrine and what should be done in this situation. This method of moving the
audience is really effective as Augustine attempts to put his listeners into
the topic of discussion right then and there.
I agree, the narrative way he speaks in paragraph 6 certainly allows his audience to place themselves in that situation. And his use of anthypophora is well received because as those listeners are following along they, no doubt, encounter those objections. With St. Augustine answering them right then and there they are able to better follow what he says. It makes it clearer to them.
ReplyDeleteI liked your analysis of how Augustine used the principles of his De Doctrinal in his sermon. I didn't even realize how much Augustine followed his formula for good preaching until you pointed it out. Makes me wonder if he prayed before and during the giving of his sermon.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Augustine starts off in the middle style to capture the attention of the congregation and mentioned that in my own piece. I think that while he did according to his statements on the levels of style I don't think that he matched them up with the audiences as he did in De Doctrina Christiana and I focused mostly on that in my own post. Interesting insights and I like how you related it to your own experience as a Christian teacher.
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