there must always be a difference of opinion as to the most suitable. The writing of Themes involves the burden of finding matter as well as language; and belongs rather to classes in scientific or other departments, than to a class in English composition. The matter should in some way or other be supplied, and the pupil disciplined in giving it expression. I know of no better method than to prescribe passages containing good matter, but in some respects imperfectly worded, to be amended according to the laws and the proprieties of style. Our older writers might be extensively, although not exclusively, drawn upon for this purpose. Another exercise is the conversion of Poetry into Prose. Much value is also attached to Abridging or Summarizing; and this might be coupled with the opposite exercise of filling up and expanding brief sketches. The sustained practice of Khetorical parsing, or the applying of the designations, principles, and rules of Rhetoric, to authors studied, whether in English or in other languages, would eventually form, in the mind of the pupil, an abiding ideal of good composition. Aberdeen, March, I866. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 1. The Figure of Speech defined,.. 2. Figures having reference to the Operations of the Human Under- 4. The tracing of Resemblances an avocation of the human mind,... 22 5. Comparisons addressed to the Understanding,. 10. Comparisons causing agreeable Surprise,. 11. Requisites of Comparisons to aid the Understanding, 12. Requisites of those addressed to the Feelings,. 14. Figures of Similarity having no effect,.. 15. Figures of Resemblance co-extensive with human knowledge,.... 27 PAGE 220 ...... 21. Metaphors may lose their figurative character,... 22. Faults special to Metaphor :-(1) The mixed Metaphor; (2) The Exercise on Figures of Contiguity and Contrast,. EPIGRAM. 40. Defined as, in most instances, Apparent Contradiction,. 41. Epigram of the Identical Assertion,.. 42. The Seeming Irrelevance,.. 43. A familiar saying turned into a new form,. CONTENTS. 55. Expresses the contrary of what is meant.-Sarcasm defined,. perbaton,.. .... 64. The grammatical order frequently departed from,.. 65. Qualifying words should precede the object qualified,. 66. Words nearly related in thought should be placed together,. ..... CLEARNESS. 75 Opposed to Obscurity and Vagueness,. 76. Management of ambiguous words,. 77. The same word not to recur in two senses,. STRENGTH. 80. Strength the quality that gives the elation of Power,... 81. Essential pleasure of Power, a rebound from Weakness, 82. Sympathy with Power in others,.. 85. Contemplation of Power in Nature,.. 87. Conditions of Strength in Composition :-Originality, 89. Variety, or Alternation of Effects. 90. Variety in Composition generally,. 91. Avoiding the repetition of the same word,. 92. Variety in the length and structure of Sentences,. FEELING-PATHOS. 103. Tender Feeling allied to inactivity or repose,. 104. Modes of awakening Tender Feeling,. 105. Conditions similar to those of Strength,. THE LUDICROUS-HUMOR-WIT. ..... ..... 109. Based on the degradation of some object possessing dignity, |
