Composition-Rhetoric Part 48

The most important use of description in connection with narration is that of portraying character. Though it is by their actions that the character of persons is most strongly brought out, yet the descriptive matter may do much to strengthen the impression of character which we form. (Section 134.) Much of the description found in literature is of this nature.

Stripped of its context such a description may fail to satisfy our ideals as judged by the principles of description discussed in Chapter VIII.

Nevertheless, in its place it may be perfectly adapted to its purpose and give just the impression the author wished to give. Such descriptions must be judged in their settings, and the sole standard of judgment is not their beauty or completeness as descriptions, but how well they give the desired impressions.

+Theme Lx.x.xIII.+--_Write a short personal narrative containing some description which explains how or why events occur._

(Is there anything in the descriptive part that does not bear on the narration?)

+Theme Lx.x.xIV.+--_Write a narrative containing description that aids in giving an impression of character._

Suggested subjects:-- 1. Holding the fort.

2. A steamer trip.

3. How I played truant.

4. Kidnapped.

5. The misfortunes of our circus.

6. Account for the situation shown in a picture that you have seen.

(Will the reader form the impression of character which you wish him to form? Consider your theme with reference to its introduction, incentive moment, selection and arrangement of details, and climax.)

SUMMARY

1. Narration a.s.sumes a variety of forms,--incidents, anecdotes, stories, letters, novels, histories, biographies, etc.,--all concerned with the relation of events.

2. The essential characteristics of a narration are,-- _a._ An introduction which tells the characters, the time, the place, and enough of the attendant circ.u.mstances to make clear the point of the narrative.

_b._ The early introduction of an incentive moment.

_c._ A climax presented in such a way as to maintain the interest of the reader.

_d._ The selection of details essential to the climax in accordance with the principle of unity.

_e._ The arrangement of these details in a coherent order.

_f._ The skillful introduction of minor details which will a.s.sist in the appreciation of the point.

_g._ The introduction of all necessary description and explanation.

_h._ That additional effectiveness which comes from (1) Proper choice of words.

(2) Suitable comparisons and figures.

(3) Variety of sentence structure.

_i._ A brief conclusion.

X. EXPOSITION

+152. Purpose of Exposition.+--It is the purpose of exposition to make clear to others that which we ourselves understand. Its primary object is to give information. Herein lies one of the chief differences between the two forms of discourse just studied and the one that we are about to study. The primary object of most description and narration is to please, while that of exposition is to inform. Exposition answers such questions as how? why? what does it mean? what is it used for? and by these answers attempts to satisfy demands for knowledge.

In the following selections notice that the first tells us _how_ to burnish a photograph; the second, _how_ to split a sheet of paper:--

1. When the prints are almost dry they can be burnished. The burnis.h.i.+ng iron should be heated and kept hot during the burnis.h.i.+ng, about the same heat as a flatiron in ironing clothes. Care must be taken to keep the polished surface of the burnisher bright and clean. When the iron is hot enough the prints should be rubbed with a glace polish, which is sold for this purpose, and is applied with a small wad of flannel. Then the prints should be pa.s.sed through the burnisher two or three times, the burnisher being so adjusted that the pressure on the prints is rather light; the degree of pressure will be quickly learned by experience, more pressure being required if the prints have been allowed to become dry before being polished. White castile soap will do very well as a lubricator for the prints before burnis.h.i.+ng, and is applied in the same manner as above.

--_The Amateur Photographer's Handbook_.

2. Paper can be split into two or even three parts, however thin the sheet. It may be convenient to know how to do this sometimes; as, for instance, when one wishes to paste in a sc.r.a.pbook an article printed on both sides of the paper.

Get a piece of plate gla.s.s and place it on a sheet of paper. Then let the paper be thoroughly soaked. With care and a little skill the sheet can be split by the top surface being removed.

The best plan, however, is to paste a piece of cloth or strong paper to each side of the sheet to be split. When dry, quickly, and without hesitation, pull the two pieces asunder, when one part of the sheet will be found to have adhered to one, and part to the other. Soften the paste in water, and the two pieces can easily be removed from the cloth.

EXERCISES

A. Explain orally any two of the following:-- 1. How to fly a kite.

2. How a robin builds her nest.

3. How oats are harvested.

4. How tacks are made.

5. How to make a popgun.

6. How fishes breathe.

7. How to swim.

8. How to hemst.i.tch a handkerchief.

9. How to play golf.

10. How salt is obtained.

B. Name several subjects with the explanation of which you are unfamiliar.

+Theme Lx.x.xV.+--_Select for a subject something that you know how to do.

Write a theme on the subject chosen._

(Have you made use of either general description or general narration? See Sections 67 and 68.)

Very frequently explanations of _how_ and _why_ anything is done are combined, as in the following:--

In cases of sunstroke, place the person attacked in a cool, airy place. Do not allow a crowd to collect closely about him. Remove his clothing, and lay him flat upon his back. Dash him all over with cold water--ice-water, if it can be obtained--and rub the entire body with pieces of ice. This treatment is used to reduce the heat of the body, for in all cases of sunstroke the temperature of the body is greatly increased. When the body has become cooler, wipe it dry and remove the person to a dry locality. If respiration ceases, or becomes exceedingly slow, practice artificial respiration. After the patient has apparently recovered, he should be kept quiet in bed for some time.

--Baldwin: _Essential Lessons in Human Physiology and Hygiene_.

Notice that the following selection answers neither the question _how_?

nor _why_? but explains what journalism is:--

JOURNALISM