Dividing a Shakespearean Speech like a Roman Rhetorician

Believe it or not, Cicero and his contemporaries described language in a way that proves very helpful when looking at Shakespeare's texts. Let's take a look at a condensed version of the Roman arrangement of oration, with examples from Antony's speech at Caesar's funeral (Julius Caesar, III.2.73-101). 

1. Exordium 

The exordium is the introduction of the speech. It captures the attention of the audience. Arguably, the exordium of Antony's speech lies in lines 73-77.

    "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears:

    I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him:

    The evil that men do lives after them,

    The good is oft interred with their bones;

    So let it be with Caesar."

2. Narration

In the narration, the orator presents facts. This section provides context for the arguments that come later in the speech. Antony uses lines 77-84 of his speech to set the scene.

    "The noble Brutus

    Hath told you Caesar was ambitious;

    If it were so, it was a grievous fault,

    And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.

    Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest

    (For Brutus is an honorable man;

    So are they all, all honorable men)

    Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral."

3. Division

The aptly-named division divides from the rest of the speech the points to be disputed. Antony uses this part of the speech, lines 85-87, to cast doubt on Brutus's honor.

    "He was my friend, faithful, and just to me;

    But Brutus says he was ambitious,

    And Brutus is an honorable man."

4. Proof

As you would expect, the proof encompasses the orator's arguments and evidence. Antony spends the bulk of his speech (lines 86-99) presenting his proof that Caesar was not ambitious.

    "He hath brought many captives home to Rome,

    Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.

    Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?

    When that the poor hath cried, Caesar hath wept;

    Ambition should be made of sterner stuff,

    Yet Brutus says he was ambitious:

    And Brutus is an honorable man.

    You all did see, that on the Lupercal

    I thrice presented him a kingly crown,

    Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?

    Yet Brutus says he was ambitious:

    And sure he is an honorable man."

5. Refutation

In the refutation, the orator anticipates counterarguments and refutes them with facts. In his refutation (lines 100-103), Antony anticipates that the crowd may object to a speech that is contrary to that Brutus made before him.

    "I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,

    But here I am to speak what I do know.

    You all did love him once, not without cause,

    What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?"

6. Peroration

The peroration is both a passionate climax and the conclusion of the speech. Antony's peroration (lines 104-107) is full of pathos to sway the audience in his favor.

    "O Judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts,

    And men have lost their reason. Bear with me,

    My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,

    And I must pause til it come back to me."