Abstract

The basis of Plato's style being for the most part informal conversation, certain elements natural and appropriate to this atmosphere may be looked for and found. These include: colloquialisms in the accepted sense—short phrases, or special uses of words, associated with informal or comic style; phrases of poetic type, probably quotations or adaptations, used frequently with burlesque effect; proverbial or semi-proverbial matter; word-play of various types. The above groups overlap at certain points, but the classification may serve fairly well to set forth the material in question