Impersonation or Personification is "an imitation of the ethos [character] of a person chosen to be portrayed." It is comparable to the modern "dramatic monologue." Like the encomium, the subject could be an historical, legendary, or fictitious character. Unlike any exercise so far, as an "imitation" the impersonation was dramatic in form, employing dialogue.

Directions for Composition
Compose lines for a person, real or imaginary, dead or living, to speak under given circumstances. Dramatize through direct speech, using description and emotional language where appropriate, fitting the speech to the character of the speaker and the circumstances.

1. One should compose the impersonation in the style in which the character would speak, considering:
   • clarity
   • conciseness
   • floridity
   • lack of finish
   • absence of figures
2. Consider also aspects of
   • past
   • present
   • future

Related Figures

• prosopopoeia

• Authorities
• Past Fact / Future Fact

• pathos