1. A Quick Epistolary History
Letters
A Quick Epistolary History
7th Grade English

2. Some Fancy Words
Epistolary - relating to letters
Ars Dictaminis - the art of letter writing

3. Bologna University
-In Italy
-Taught Letter Writing

4. So, how were people taught to structure a letter?
Salutation
Captatio Benevolentiae (Secure Good Will)
Narratio (Add Some Story)
Petitio (Ask For Something)
Conclusio (Conclusion)
(during the 1100’s)

5. Some Famous Books That Are Written As Letters
Clarissa (Longest Book) Frankenstein Dracula

6. Check out some lines from these epistolary novels!
Clarissa
“I am extremely concerned, my dearest friend, for the disturbances that have happened in your family. I know how it
must hurt you to become the subject of the public talk.” Miss Anna Howe
Frankenstein
“Listen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience,
destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man!” - The Monster (who never gets a name)
Dracula
“No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.”
- Mina

7. Discussion Questions Why do we write letters?
How have letters changed over time?
Why might an author write in an epistolary style?