Exordium: A Literary Device

Exordium: Etymology, Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Etymology

The term “exordium” finds its origins in Latin, where it stems from the verb “exordiri,” meaning to begin or commence. In rhetoric and oratory, the exordium serves as the introductory part of a discourse, aiming to captivate the audience’s attention and set the stage for the upcoming discussion. Often considered the opening flourish, the exordium is strategically crafted to establish rapport, create anticipation, and prepare the ground for the speaker’s main arguments.

Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Literal Meanings	Conceptual Meanings
Beginning or Commencement:	Captivating the Audience:
– Originating from Latin “exordiri”	– Engaging opening to capture attention
– Signifying the start of a discourse	– Creating anticipation for the main discussion
Introductory Flourish:	Establishing Rapport:
– Opening flourish in rhetoric	– Building a connection with the audience
– Sets the tone for the discourse	– Creating a favorable atmosphere
Preparing the Ground:	A Prelude to Main Arguments:
– Creating a foundation for discussion	– Serving as a prelude to the core arguments
– Priming the audience for the main points	– Providing context and orientation

The multifaceted term “exordium” encapsulates both its literal roots as a beginning and its conceptual role as a captivating, rapport-building prelude in the realm of rhetoric and oratory.

Exordium: Definition as a Literary Device

Exordium, as a literary device, is the opening part of a text that aims to grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for what follows. It is like the introductory flair, deliberately created to connect with the audience and build excitement for the upcoming story or discussion. In literature, the exordium acts as a literary hook, pulling readers into the narrative by crafting a compelling starting point.

Exordium in Literature: Examples

1. Charles Dickens – “A Tale of Two Cities” (1859):
   • Exordium: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
2. J.K. Rowling – “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (1997):
   • Exordium: “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”
3. Gabriel Garcia Marquez – “One Hundred Years of Solitude” (1967):
   • Exordium: “Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”
4. Jane Austen – “Pride and Prejudice” (1813):
   • Exordium: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
5. F. Scott Fitzgerald – “The Great Gatsby” (1925):
   • Exordium: “In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.”
6. George Orwell – “1984” (1949):
   • Exordium: “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
7. Herman Melville – “Moby-Dick” (1851):
   • Exordium: “Call me Ishmael. Some years ago – never mind how long precisely – having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.”
8. Ray Bradbury – “Fahrenheit 451” (1953):
   • Exordium: “It was a pleasure to burn.”
9. Harper Lee – “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1960):
   • Exordium: “When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.”
10. Leo Tolstoy – “Anna Karenina” (1877):
    • Exordium: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

These examples showcase the diverse use of exordium in literature, setting the stage for narratives that have become classics in the literary canon.

Exordium in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Use of Exordium
Formalism/New Criticism	Sets the tone for close analysis of literary elements, drawing attention to the text’s structure and language from the very beginning.
Reader-Response Theory	Engages readers immediately, inviting them to bring their interpretations and responses to the text, making them active participants in the reading experience.
Feminist Criticism	Establishes a context for exploring gender dynamics, as the exordium may contain cues regarding the treatment of female characters or feminist themes in the narrative.
Postcolonialism	Can signal the perspective through which the story is told, offering early insights into the narrative’s cultural and colonial implications.
Structuralism and Semiotics	Serves as an initial set of symbols, signs, or codes that structuralists analyze to uncover the underlying meaning in the text.
Deconstruction	May present initial binaries or opposites, providing material for deconstructionists to challenge and destabilize throughout the narrative.
Marxist Criticism	Offers clues about power dynamics, class structures, and societal values, setting the stage for a Marxist analysis of economic and social elements in the text.

Exordium: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
1. Exordium	The introduction or beginning of a literary work, speech, or text.
2. Rhetoric	The art of effective communication, often involving persuasive language.
3. Prelude	An introductory part that precedes or prepares for the main action.
4. Opening Flourish	A captivating start designed to grab the audience’s attention.
5. Engaging Hook	A compelling element that draws readers into the narrative.
6. Introductory Tone	The mood or atmosphere set by the initial words of a piece.
7. Prologue	An opening section that provides background information or context.
8. Commencement	The act or instance of beginning, marking the initiation of something.
9. Foreword	An introductory statement, often written by someone other than the author.
10. Kickoff	A dynamic and impactful start, setting the stage for what follows.

Exordium: Suggested Readings

1. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Penguin, 2003.
2. Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. Simon & Schuster, 2012.
3. Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Oxford UP, 2008.
4. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.
5. Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper, 2006.
6. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Bloomsbury, 2014.
7. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.
8. Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. Vintage, 2003.
9. Orwell, George. 1984. Signet Classic, 1961.
10. Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. Penguin, 2004.