The Principles of Elocution; Compiled From 'the Elements of Rhetoric', With Additions & Alterations. Compiled From 'the Elements of Rhetoric', With Additions & Alterations - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854. Excerpt: ... tftyopbr iv. Practical Deductions from the foregoing views. §1. One of the consequences of the adoption of the original mode of elocution here recommended, is, that he tions suitawho endeavours to employ it will find a growing natural dereluctance to the delivery, as his own, of any but his own compositions. Conclusions, indeed, and arguments he may freely borrow; but he will be led to compose his own discourses, from finding that he cannot deliver those of another to his own satisfaction, without laboriously studying them, as an actor does his part, so as to make them, in some measure, his own. And with this view, he will generally find it advisable to introduce many alterations in the expression, not with any thought of improving the style, absolutely, but only with a view to his own delivery, (t) And indeed, even his own previous compositions he will be led to alter almost as much, in point of expression, in order to accommodate them to the Natural manner of delivery. Much that would please in the closet,--much of the Graphic style described by Aristotle, will be laid aside for the Agonistic;--for a style somewhat more blunt and homely,--more simple, and, apparently, unstudied in its structure, and at the same time, more daringly energetic. And if again he is desirous of fitting his discourses for the press, he will find it expedient to reverse this process, and alter the style afresh. In many instances accordingly, the perusal of a manuscript sermon would afford, from the observation of its style, a tolerably good ground of conjecture as to the author's customary elocution. For instance, a rapid elocution suits the more full, and a slow one, the more concise style; and great variations in the degree of rapidity of delivery are suited to the corre...