Spartacus to the Gladiators at Capua
Encyclopedia
Spartacus to the Gladiators at Capua is a rhetoric
al monologue written by Elijah Kellogg
for a student competition at Bowdoin College
in 1842, and later published by Epes Sargent
, one of the judges, in his 1846 School Reader. The piece, written as if it were an actual declamation
by Spartacus
to his fellows during the slave rebellion
against the Roman Empire
known as the Third Servile War
, became popular in collections of rhetoric in the late 19th century.
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
al monologue written by Elijah Kellogg
Elijah Kellogg
Elijah Kellogg, Jr. was an American Congregationalist minister, lecturer and author of popular boy's adventure books.- Professional life :...
for a student competition at Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1842, and later published by Epes Sargent
Epes Sargent (poet)
Epes Sargent was an American editor, poet and playwright.-Early life:Epes Sargent was the son of Epes Sargent and Hannah Dane Coffin , and was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on September 27, 1813, where his father was a ship master. In 1818 the family moved to Roxbury, Massachusetts...
, one of the judges, in his 1846 School Reader. The piece, written as if it were an actual declamation
Declamation
Grand National Tournament in Declamation is a public speaking event of the National Catholic Forensic League. One can qualify for the annual NCFL Grand National Tournament in Declamation through their local qualifying tournament...
by Spartacus
Spartacus
Spartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable...
to his fellows during the slave rebellion
Slave rebellion
A slave rebellion is an armed uprising by slaves. Slave rebellions have occurred in nearly all societies that practice slavery, and are amongst the most feared events for slaveholders...
against the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
known as the Third Servile War
Third Servile War
The Third Servile War , also called the Gladiator War and the War of Spartacus by Plutarch, was the last of a series of unrelated and unsuccessful slave rebellions against the Roman Republic, known collectively as the Roman Servile Wars...
, became popular in collections of rhetoric in the late 19th century.