encomium

A tribute or eulogy in prose or verse honoring people, objects, ideas, or events. The opposite of invective and one of the progymnasmata. Plural, encomia. See also:

• Nicholson Baker's Encomium to Perforation
• What Are the Progymnasmata?

Etymology:

From the Greek, "praise"



Examples and Observations:

• "Mark Twain has been called the inventor of the American novel. It might even be fair to call him the inventor of the American short story. And he surely deserves an additional encomium: the man who popularized the sophisticated literary attack on racism."
  (Stephen L. Carter, "Getting Past Black and White," Time magazine, July 3, 2008)



• "I grew up in the South, and Rosa Parks was a hero to me long before I recognized and understood the power and impact that her life embodied. I remember my father telling me about this colored woman who had refused to give up her seat. And in my child's mind, I thought, 'She must be really big.' I thought she must be at least a hundred feet tall. I imagined her being stalwart and strong and carrying a shield to hold back the white folks. And then I grew up and had the esteemed honor of meeting her. And wasn't that a surprise. Here was this petite, almost delicate lady who was the personification of grace and goodness. And I thanked her then. I said, 'Thank you,' for myself and for every colored girl, every colored boy, who didn't have heroes who were celebrated. I thanked her then."
  (Oprah Winfrey, Eulogy for Rosa Parks, Oct. 31, 2005)



• "The greatest thing about this man [President George W. Bush] is he's steady. You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change; this man's beliefs never will."
  (Stephen Colbert, "The Colbert Report")