"True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, I. Problem DESCRIBE SO that a stranger can see it the town in which you live. II. Model In the Acadian land, on the shore of the basin of Minas, Giving the village its name and pasture to flocks without number. Dikes, that the hands of the farmers had raised with labor incessant, Shut out the turbulent tides; but at stated seasons the flood gates Opened, and welcomed the sea to wander at will o'er the meadows. West and south there were fields of flax, and orchards and cornfields Spreading afar and unfenced o'er the plain; and away to the northward Blomidon rose and the forests old, and aloft on the mountains Sea-fogs pitched their tents, and mists from the mighty Atlantic Looked on the happy valley, but ne'er from their station descended. There, in the midst of the farms, reposed the Acadian village. Strongly built were the houses, with frames of oak and of chestnut Such as the peasants of Normandy built in the reign of the Henries. Thatched were the roofs, with dormer windows; and gables projecting Over the basement below protected and shaded the doorway. There in the tranquil evenings of summer, when brightly the sunset Lighted the village street and gilded the vanes of the chim neys Matrons and maidens sat in snow-white caps and in kirtles Scarlet and blue and green, with distaffs spinning the golden Flax for the gossiping looms, whose noisy shuttles within doors Mingled their sound with the whir of the wheels and the songs of the maidens. Solemnly down the street came the parish priest, and the children Paused in their play to kiss the hand he extended to bless them. Reverend walked he among them; and up rose matrons and maidens, Hailing his slow approach with words of affectionate wel come. Then came the laborers home from the field, and serenely the sun sank Down to his rest and twilight prevailed. Anon from the belfry Softly the Angelus sounded, and over the roofs of the village Columns of pale blue smoke, like clouds of incense ascending, Rose from a hundred hearths, the homes of peace and contentment. III. Analysis of Model 1. Framework. Lines 13. The "Four W's." Lines 3-12. The Country North, South, East, and West. Lines 13-33. The Village Itself (a) The Houses (lines 13-17). = 2. Keynote Peace. Make a list of the words that suggest peace. 3. Words. Line 1. Acadian. Do not confuse with Arcadian. 2. Grand Pré-Big Meadow. 10. Blomidon. Consult the atlas. 15. Normandy. Where is it? 15. Who were the Henries? 16. Explain Gables. Thatched, Dormer, and 19. Explain Vanes. 23. What is made from flax? 29. Define Anon. 30. What is the Angelus ? 4. Figures of Speech. Line 4. Note that the participle "giving" has two direct and two indirect objects and that their order is reversed. This is called Chiasmus, from the Greek letter Chi, which is somewhat like an X. In the same line we have an example of Zeugma, which in Greek means "yoke"; that is, two nouns of different classes are joined by the coördinate conjunction “and.” Line 7. The verbs "welcome" and "wander" imply that the sea is like a guest. Similarly, in Line 10, "pitched their tents" implies that the sea-fogs were like a hostile army. Such implied comparisons are called metaphors. Find another. Line 20. Matrons and Maids. The jingle produced by the fact that both these words begin with the same sound is called alliteration. Are there any other examples of alliteration in the description? Line 23. Whir of the Wheels. Such sound imitation is called onomatopoeia. 5. Descriptive Words and Phrases. Find in the model a half-dozen words that appeal to the eye and two or three that appeal to the ear. IV. Topics for Three-Minute Speeches 1. Longfellow. 2. The Story of Evangeline. 3. Parkman's Account of the Acadians. 4. Metaphor. 5. Alliteration. 6. Onomatopoeia. V. Written Composition Write a description of your own town. Use the following plans and specifications: 1. Strike a keynote cultured, provincial, sleepy, smoky, busy, breezy, etc. Hit this key several times during your description and be sure that you hit no other. 2. Use this framework: Paragraph 1. The "Four W's.” 2. The Surrounding Country. 4. The Streets. 5. A Picture of Evening, Noon, Morning, or Midnight, which will include children, women, men, and some important central figure such as that occupied by the priest in Longfellow's description. The time of year and the hour of the day you choose will be somewhat determined by the keynote. 3. Do not try to write in verse. 4. Use a few figures of speech. VI. Memorize POLONIUS'S ADVICE TO LAERTES Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee. Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgement. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in France of the best rank and station Are most select and generous in that. Neither a borrower nor a lender be; SHAKESPEARE. |