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. 3. The intellectual power of Similarity explained,. OF SIMILITUDES GENERALLY. 4. The tracing of Resemblances an avocation of the human mind,. 5. Comparisons addressed to the Understanding,.. 6. The things compared must be different in kind, 7. Comparisons addressed to the Feelings,.. 9. Picturesque Comparisons,. . . . 10. Comparisons causing agreeable Surprise,. . . . Necessity of Harmony,. 14. Figures of Similarity having no effect,. 15. Figures of Resemblance co-extensive with human knowledge,. 19. Metaphors increase the names of a language,. 20. Metaphors express the more hidden operations of the mind,. 21. Metaphors may lose their figurative character,... 22. Faults special to Metaphor :-(1) The mixed Metaphor; (2) The ALLEGORY-FABLE-PARABLE. 43. A familiar saying turned into a new form,. 44. The arrestive conjunctions are epigrammatic,. 54 55. Expresses the contrary of what is meant.-Sarcasm defined,..... 62 56. Other Figures of the old Rhetoricians :-Ellipsis, Asyndeton, Hy- perbaton,... Exercise on Figures. 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,.. ... 82 83 83 STRENGTH. 80. Strength the quality that gives the elation of Power,... 91. Avoiding the repetition of the same word,.. 92. Variety in the length and structure of Sentences,. 93. Variety in a long composition,. 94. Contrast the extreme case of Variety,. 95. Exciting effects should be relieved,. FEELING-PATHOS. 103. Tender Feeling allied to inactivity or repose,. 104. Modes of awakening Tender Feeling,. THE LUDICROUS-HUMOR-WIT. |
