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An eye like Mars, to threaten and command;
A station like the herald Mercury

New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill;

A combination and a form indeed

Where every god did seem to set his seal,

To give the world assurance of a man.

This was your husband. Look you now, what follows?
Here is your husband, like a mildew'd ear,

Blasting his wholesome brother.

-Shakespeare.

For a powerful example of antithesis, refer to Moulton's Modern Reader's Bible, Oration III, pp. 97–98.

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Climax. When a series of words, phrases, clauses, or sentences is so arranged that each surpasses the preceding one in intensity or importance, this arrangement is called a climax. The following is an example of climax :

Grand, gloomy, and peculiar, he sat upon the throne a sceptered hermit, wrapt in the solitude of his own originality. A mind, bold, independent, and decisive; a will, despotic in its dictates; an energy that distanced expedition; and a conscience, pliable to every touch of interest, marked the outlines of this extraordinary character, the most extraordinary, perhaps, that in the annals of this world ever rose, or reigned, or fell.

-Phillips.

For fine examples of climax, refer to Victor Hugo's description of the battle of Waterloo, in Les Miserables; to Moses' farewell orations, the Deuteronomy volume of Moulton's Modern Reader's Bible, pp. 21-25, and pp. 107-108, Oration I

Irony. Irony is a figure of speech which says one thing and means another. Lowell says that it is a sort of verbal boomerang, which while apparently thrown in one

direction, strikes in another. There is a difference be tween gentle irony, and what is termed bitter irony. The quotation below from Addison is in the gentler form.

There is another way of reasoning which seldom fails, though it be of a quite different nature from that I have last mentioned. I mean convincing a man by ready money, or, as it is ordinarily called, bribing a man to an opinion. A man who is furnished with arguments from the mint will convince the antagonist much sooner than one who draws them from reason and philosophy. Gold is a wonderful clearer of the understanding; it dissipates every doubt and scruple in an instant; accommodates itself to the meanest capacities; silences the loud and clamorous, and brings over the most obstinate and inflexible.

- Addison.

For an example of bitter irony, refer to Elijah's mockery of the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings xviii. 22–27.

Hyperbole. Hyperbole resembles metaphor, but the object which is represented is greatly exaggerated in size or importance, for the sake of emphasis. It is very commonly used in conversation. The following is a good example of hyperbole, referring to Helen of Troy :

Was this the face that launched a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?

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EXERCISES ON FIGURES OF SPEECH

In the following exercises try to let your use of figures be natural. Do not strain for effect or drag in anything far-fetched.

1. Think out the plot of a little story of simple adventure. Let there be two or three characters. You may tell it in the first person, if you choose. In telling your story, manage to use two or three distinct figures of speech.

2. Describe a visit to the Zoo. Tell it so as to bring in the use of at least four different kinds of figures of speech. 3. Look up ten examples of figures of speech used in the College Entrance literature that you have studied in English. Choose none but the best examples of whatever figures of speech you may desire to bring to class. Name each kind.

4. Listen to the talk of your classmates, and bring to class three figures of speech, correctly used, occurring in their conversation. Name each figure there used. Avoid personalities, and be careful to give offense to no one.

5. Longer Theme. Write an article for your school paper, or for publication in some good newspaper, on The Use of Figurative Language. The purpose for which your article is prepared will govern its length. Do not make the mistake of using too many words, if you expect to dispose of your work. The practical way would be to examine the material already accepted by your paper or magazine, and govern yourself accordingly. Show how figurative language is employed, by illustrations from current and standard literature. Do not multiply examples.

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EXERCISES BASED ON PICTURES

Birthplace of Robert Burns, Ayr, Scotland. A certain charm surrounds the spot where any great man was born. When we remember that Burns made his way against obstacles, and rose to an eminence which few have reached, with no aid but that which his own modest genius afforded, it is no wonder that we approach the birthplace of the honest and manly Scotch poet with deep interest.

(a) A Visit to the Home of a Poet.- Let the class make a visit to the home of some poet, or noted writer, if possible. If not, and some individual member of the class can do so, let him make the visit and report. Describe the dwelling and give something of interest connected with the life of the poet or writer.

(b) An Imaginary Visit. If you cannot go in person, what is to hinder a visit made in imagination? You can go anywhere on the wings of your fancy. Study the picture, so as to be accurate in your story, and tell it as faithfully as you can. Let your story be in keeping with the simplicity which characterizes the life and works of Robert Burns.

(c) A Little Pilgrimage. age to a home, is found in Elbert Hubbard's Little Journeys to the Homes of Famous Men and Women. He uses the visit thus made for the purpose of saying what he wants to say about the one whose home he describes. Visit the former home of James Whitcomb Riley, at Indianapolis, or of Jack London, near Santa Rosa, California, in reality, or in imagination, and tell about it.

An excellent model for a little pilgrim

(d) Little Visits. In this same spirit, that of telling something about the home of some one whom you delight to honor, describe a visit to the home of George Washington, at Mount Vernon. Or choose some one else, and make a little visit to his home. Tell the class about your visit.

(e) Robert Burns. - Prepare a speech, ten minutes in length, on Robert Burns. Do not work hastily. Seek an opportunity to make your speech before some society interested in this poet. Hand the finished manuscript to your instructor for criticism, but only after you have done your best.

CHAPTER XXX

POETRY AND DRAMA

Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY.

Poetry. So far in your study of effective English your attention has been directed mainly to prose, although it has been impossible to refrain from some mention of poetry, especially in dealing with figurative language. You are now to give some definite thought to poetry.

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Difference Between Poetry and Prose. Poetry differs from prose mainly in three respects: (1) in its purpose; (2) in its style, (3) in its form.

Purpose of Poetry. The purpose of poetry is the communication of pleasure to the imagination. Blair defines poetry as the language of passion, or of enlivened imagination, formed most commonly into regular numbers. He says that the historian, the orator, and the philosopher address themselves to the understanding; but that the primary aim of the poet is to please and to move; and therefore it is to the imagination and to the passions that he speaks.

It is true that the poet may mean to instruct and to reform, but this is not his first aim. It is by pleasing the imagination and by moving the heart that he accomplishes this end. Plato, however, says that poetry comes nearer to vital truth than history.

The word poet means maker or creator. To see how appropriate this title is, we have only to recall the char

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