1001 Questions and Answers on Orthography and Reading Part 20

152. _What are they?_ Epic, Dramatic, Lyric, Elegiac, Didactic, Satiric and Pastoral.

153. _What is an Epic poem?_ A poetical recital of some great and heroic enterprise.

154. _Are there many Epic poems?_ There are not; most nations have one.

155. _Name the three Epics of greatest note._ Homer's Iliad, Virgil's aeneid, and Milton's Paradise Lost.

156. _What language were these poems written in?_ The Iliad in Greek, aeneid in Latin, and Paradise Lost in English.

157. _What does the Iliad describe or narrate?_ The downfall of Troy, which was the most memorable event in the early history of the Trojans and Greeks.

158. _What does the aeneid narrate?_ The perils and labors of aeneas, who was the reputed founder of the Roman race.

159. _What does Paradise Lost describe?_ The downfall of not only the Human but of the Angelic host.

160. _What is a Dramatic poem?_ One similar in many respects to an Epic.

161. _Name some point of difference._ Epic relates past events; the Drama represents events as taking place at the present time.

162. _Name the greatest Dramatic writer of the English._ Shakespeare.

163. _What is a Drama called that is set to music?_ An opera.

164. _What is a Melodrama?_ A dramatic poem some parts of which are spoken and some are sung.

165. _What is Lyric Poetry?_ It is the oldest kind of poetry, and was originally intended to be sung to the accompaniment of the lyre.

166. _What are Sonnets?_ A kind of Lyric Poems.

167. _What is an Elegy?_ A poem of a mournful kind, usually celebrating the virtues of some person deceased.

168. _What is an Epitaph?_ A short Elegy inscribed on a monument, or written in praise of any one.

169. _What is a Pastoral poem?_ One that describes country life.

170. _What is a Didactic poem?_ One the aim of which is to give instruction.

171. _What is Meditative Poetry?_ A kind of Didactic poetry.

172. _Name two noted Didactic poems._ Bryant's "Thanatopsis," and Campbell's "Pleasures of Hope."

173. _What is a Satire?_ One that holds up the follies of men to ridicule.

174. _Is a Satire personal?_ It is not.

175. _What is a Lampoon?_ A poem that attacks individuals.

176. _What is Gesture?_ Expression given to language by movements of the body, limbs, etc.

177. _What kind of Gesture is most appropriate?_ That which is natural.

178. _What att.i.tude should be used in reading and speaking?_ Standing.

179. _Which hand should hold the book?_ The left, if possible.

180. _Should a Reader keep his eyes on the book constantly?_ He should not; but cast the eyes away from the page as often as possible.

181. _Should a gesture be made while the eyes are looking on the book?_ It should not.

182. _In what kind of language are gestures inappropriate?_ Didactic or unimpa.s.sioned discourse.

183. _Should a Speaker begin to gesticulate as soon as he begins his discourse?_ Very seldom, before he has entered fully into the discourse.

184. _How many positions are recognized for the hand when not used in gesticulating?_ Three.

185. _What are they?_ Hanging naturally at the side; resting upon the hip with the elbow thrown backward; and resting on your bosom.

186. _What are Descriptive gestures?_ Those used in describing objects.

187. _What are Significant gestures?_ Those which have special signification.

188. _Name some Significant gestures of the head._ It drops in grief and shame, and nods in a.s.sent; shakes in dissent, and leans forward in attention.

189. _Name some Significant gestures of the eyes._ Raised in prayer, weep in sorrow, burn in anger, and are cast on vacancy in thought.

190. _Name some of the pa.s.sions of the mind._ Love, anger, joy, sorrow, fear, and courage.

191. _What tone of voice should be used in the expression of Love?_ Soft, smooth, and languis.h.i.+ng voice.

192. _What tone of voice should be used to express Anger?_ Strong, vehement, and elevated voice.

193. _Where is the best place to practice elocution and reading?_ In the open air, or in a well ventilated room.

194. _Should a Reader or Speaker pay strict attention to the rules of elocution?_ He should not, but study nature rather.

195. _What is the Soul of Oratory?_ Emotion.

196. _What is meant by the Compa.s.s of the voice?_ The range in which it can be properly controlled.

197. _How may the Compa.s.s of the voice be increased?_ By continued practice on a very low and very high key.

198. _Should a Reader or Speaker drink any liquid while exercising the voice?_ He should not, for it is injurious to the vocal chords.

199. _What effect does Tobacco have on the voice?_ It enfeebles the nervous system and breathing organs, and makes the voice dry, harsh, and ungovernable.

200. _What effect do Stimulants have on the voice?_ Irritate and inflame the vocal organs, which results in hoa.r.s.eness and produces too high a key, which terminates in a squeaking tone.

201. _In faulty articulation what sounds are usually misp.r.o.nounced?_ The vowel sounds of the unaccented syllables.