Progymnasmata: Impersonation & Characterization

Classical Writing Exercises in Preparation for Rhetoric

This post is part of a series on the “progymnasmata” which is an ancient approach to teaching students the art of written composition. The word itself essentially means “before exercises” because these are the necessary skills one should acquire before entering into the discipline of Rhetoric (persuasion in writing and speech). You can go HERE to access the growing list of resources for learning and teaching the various elements of the progymnasmata. Enjoy!

This exercise of the progymnasmata focuses upon recognizing the quality and value of ethos in persuasive writing and speaking. Ethos, as one of the three modes of persuasion (along with pathos and logos) is all about the character of the speaker and whether he or she is believable, seen as genuine, attractive in manner and appearance, and qualified to speak on the matter being addressed. As Christian writers and orators it should be our desire to not merely have the appearance of truthfulness and integrity, but also the reality. Nevertheless, all orators who want to be respected and believed must learn how to present their personal character in a good light. Ethos in accompaniment with good reasoning (logos) and appropriate emotional appeals (pathos) is a powerful means of persuasion. The exercises of Impersonation and Characterization are meaningful steps toward the consideration of our own ethos because it is a study of the existing ethos in others and also the means by which an effective ethos may be crafted.

It has been said, “imitation is the highest form of flattery.” Imitation is the name of the game in the exercise of Impersonation. The goal is to examine the unique way in which a particular author or speaker tends to present themselves. This involves consideration of the kinds of words they choose to make use of (diction) and the way they typically order their sentences (syntax). It also involves taking notice of their style. Are they fond of using analogies? Are they all business or full of humor? Do they tend to relate everything to politics or religion? Do they make use of poetry or rhyme? These, and a host of other qualities and habits, form the voice of a particular author or speaker. An author or speaker’s voice is a major part of their ethos (character) and it either reinforces their believability, likeability, and persuasiveness or undermines it. By learning to recognize these qualities in others, capture the ones which are unique to a particular person, and imitate it, the student begins to learn more about the power and effect ethos has upon people.

The exercise of Characterization builds upon the skills of impersonating a person’s voice and goes a step further. In this exercise the student moves beyond the role of imitator to the role of creator. Characterization is the skill employed by novelists when they create a character. The best fiction writers are students of true human nature and the qualities that belong to various personalities. When a good author creates a believable character they do far more than merely slap a made up name on some dialogue. A good author gives time and consideration to what their character is like, what they look like, what mannerisms they exhibit, how they pronounce words and what kinds of words they make use of (and which words would never be uttered by them), what experiences they’ve had, what actions they would or would not take, what virtues or vices do they possess, where they are from, and many other such things. Developing a character in detail allows authors to create a unique voice for their character, notable and distinct from other characters in their story. Failure to do this makes for flat characters which all sound the same. Doing this well makes for believable characters. 

The practice of Impersonation allows the student to recognize qualities of character and speech in real people and to take note of their effect upon others (pleasing or otherwise). The practice of Characterization allows the student to consider those same qualities in the abstract, separating them from particular people, mixing and matching them in the mind and then putting them together in different arrangements to form a new ethos and writing from that created character’s personality. 

Both of these exercises, considered together, allow the student to reflect upon the concept of ethos and consider what qualities and virtues are desirable to possess (both as a Christian and as a writer and orator). Ideally the conception and understanding will move the student towards the attempt to acquire these positive qualities and make them genuine realities in his or her own life. Recognizing, mimicking, and practicing a good ethos is a significant step toward actually possessing one. Having a strong ethos is an essential part of being a persuasive writer and speaker. Having a virtuous ethos is an essential part of being a Christian.

There are many ways one can practice impersonation in writing and speaking. The two that will be utilized for now will be given the titles of translation and imagination. 

Translation

Translation, in this context, refers to rewriting a given paragraph in the voice of numerous authors. In other words, choose any paragraph from a piece of prose and rewrite it, keeping the essential information the same, but utilizing the voice of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, or some other prominent author. The more voluminously they have written (and the more you have personally read of their work) the easier this exercise is to accomplish. The more familiar you are with an author, and the better notes you take on their style, the more you will be able to imitate their voice.

The Process:

1. Select a well known and respected author which you have read extensively.

2. Take notes upon the author’s published content:

   1. Diction: What kind of words does he use? Does the author seem to like big words or does he keep it simple? Does he have any words or phrases he uses repetitively (intentionally or not)? Are his words reflective of being steeped in Biblical literature, Plato’s philosophy, Shakespeare’s poetry, etc.? Does the author use abrasive or jarring language or does he try to use pleasing and non-offensive language?

      1. Word Play: Does the author like to make use of analogy? Does he use rhyme, alliteration, or meter? Is he a fan of using tropes like metaphor, hyperbole, personification, oxymorons, etc.? Does the author seem to appreciate humor or is he all business?

   2. Syntax: How does the author structure his sentences? Are they long and complicated with many commas and semicolons or are they short and sweet? Is the author a stickler for proper grammar or does he like to bend the rules? Does the author tend to use any non-standard sentence structures? Does he often make use of the ellipses (...) or other uses of punctuation, beyond what grammar demands, to try to communicate emotion or uncertainty?

   3. Subject matter/genre: What are the genre(s) which this author writes in? Does the author generally only address one topic (i.e. religion, politics, history, philosophy, etc.) or do they write on many things? What sub-categories do they touch upon? In other words, if they write about religion, do they write about all religions or just one? If just one, what topics in that religion (e.g. sin, salvation, heaven and hell, etc.). Same goes for history (American vs. British, particular wars, government, etc.)

3. Rewrite the supplied (or chosen) paragraph attempting to mimic the voice of your selected author.

4. Compare and contrast your finished paragraph with your selected author and evaluate how well you mimicked his or her voice. 

   1. State what you think you did well.

   2. State what you think you could do better.

Imagination

The other Impersonation exercise is imagination. In this context that means writing an original statement in the voice of a particular author. Rather than translating a particular paragraph into a particular author’s voice students will write an original paragraph on a supplied topic, impersonating a particular author. For instance, a student might be told to address topics like “the need for border control,” or “the importance of reading fiction,” or “the need for virtue in society,” or “what makes music beautiful,” etc., but they must write on the topic in the voice P. G. Wodehouse, or the Beowulf Poet, or Martin Luther, etc. 

(NOTE: The process for preparation and execution of this exercise is the same as above with the only difference being writing from imagination on the given topic rather than translating a paragraph.)

The exercise for Characterization is one of creation. The goal is to develop a believable character and to then write a short essay as that character. 

The process: 

1. Sketch out some biographical information for your character.

   1. Origin: Where is your character from geographically? What was his or her parentage?

   2. Education/Training: Was your character well educated? Was your character trained in some specific skill?

   3. Religion: What does your character believe about God, heaven and hell, salvation, forgiveness, etc.

   4. Influences: What kind of people or institutions have influenced and shaped your character?

   5. Mission/Purpose: What drives and/or directs your character’s goals or ambitions in life?

2. Sketch out the personality of your character.

   1. Humor: Is your character always serious, never serious, or a good mix?

   2. Piety: Is your character faithful to his parents, country, friends, and other connections?

   3. Virtues and Vices: What are the strengths and weaknesses of your character’s moral life? Is he courageous, reckless, or cowardly? Is he prudent in his choices or does he act without sufficient information? Consider all the virtues and vices and assign them as you deem fit to your character. (hint: a believable character is rarely all good or all bad)

   4. Pastimes: Is your character sporty or bookish? Does he like outdoor activities or indoor activities? 

   5. Introvert or extrovert: Does your character like to be around lots of people or just a few good friends. Do they thrive in the spotlight or behind the scenes?

3. Write a short essay on a supplied or chosen topic (e.g. the means by which a dragon may be effectively kept out of a castle).

4. Repeat the exact same process with a different invented character showing the distinction between how two of your created characters would address the same essay topic very differently.