Description is "a composition bringing the subject clearly before the eyes." Like the encomium, the subjects may be persons, actions, times, places, animals, and growing things.

Directions for Composition
Employing many figures of speech, describe a person or other subject so that it stands before the listener's eyes. Often a complete description (if describing a person, from head to foot; if an action, from the start to the results).

Example
Aphthonius gives the example of describing the acropolis of Alexandria

Related Figures

• Figures of Description
• effictio
• enargia / hypotyposis

• Subject and Adjuncts