The art of discourse: a system of rhetoric, adapted for use in colleges and academies, and also for private study

Front matter

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

Preface

The present work is a reconstruction of the author's " Elements of the Art of Rhetoric," first pubHshed in 1850. The distinctive pecuharities of that work were the elevation of Invention, or the supply of the thought, to the first and commanding rank in rhetorical instruction ; the reduction of the principles of Rhetoric to more exact system and method, both in respect of its internal properties and also of its relations to kindred arts and sciences ; and the stricter treatment of Rhetoric as an art rather than as a science. The work has been received with great favor in all parts of the country ; but both in its outward dress and also in its contents it invited some attempts at improvement. The principal changes in the text will be found in the more definite indications of the relations of Rhetoric to Logic and Esthetics, and the fuller and clearer application of logical and aesthetic principles to the construction of discourse ; the fuller and more definite development of the nature and processes of Explanation, or the unfolding of thought ; and the more exact classification of the properties of Style. A leading aim in the reconstruction has been to exhibit the grounds of. all the principles of the art in the nature of thought and of language, so as to enable the kamer to discern the logical accuracy and completeness of its divisions, its

IV ~ PEEFACE.

processes, and its properties ; as the design has been not merely to present a collection of doctrines and observations for acquisition as bare knowledge, but to make practical thinkers and writers — to put students of discourse on a course of training which if faithfully pursued shall secure to them a perpetual growth in power as thinkers and also as speakers and writers. An indispensable condition of such continuous growth is an intelligent apprehension of the essential nature and laws of each of the diverse processes in which thought may be presented to other minds. A moment's reflection will satisfy any candid mind that the expectation of reaching, any high degree of skill in the construction of discourse, whether written or extempore, without separate study and practice in each of these general processes, is just as preposterous as the expectation of attaining mathematical skill by general practice in computing, without specific study of the elemental principles of quantity, and practice in the fundamental rules of computation. As the only common-sense method of acquiring arithmetical skill is by the study of the ground-rules of arithmetic, one by one and successively, — addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, of reduction of fractions, evolution and involution, proportion, — not by general exeVcises in computation involving any or all these processes in combination, so the only rational method of acquiring skill in writing and speaking is by the separate study of each process of presenting thought. Having well grounded himself thus in these processes, the student of discourse may go on ever perfecting his skill in the handling of thought, in the shaping of it for the various pbjects of his discourse, and in the ultimate embodi-

PEEFACE. V

ment of it in fit and eifective verbal expression. Proceeding in this way, the training in discourse — in writing compositions — instead of a repulsive drudgery, to be shirked in every way possible, becomes an attractive as it will be felt to be a rational procedure, and of eminent utility.

Exercises- have been subjoined to the several departments of Invention and Style, as fully as seemed desirable. They will be found sufficient for private study. In classes under permanent instructors the selections of exercises must necessarily be left to a great extent with the instructor. In the author's " Rhetorical Praxis " may be found two thousand or more themes, with rudimental exercises in all rhetorical processes. His " Art of Composition " contains the principles of proper sentence-construction, presented in progressive method, including an introduction to the use of imagery or rhetorical symbols and to the elementary processes in the unfolding of thought, and accompanied throughout with copious exercises.

,New Haven, January, 1867.

Contents

— « —

INTEODUCTION.

Chapter I. Paox

§ 1. Definition of Bhetoric 1

CHAPTER n.

OP THE PROVINCE AND KELATIONS OF RHETOKIC.

§ 2. Founded on the Faculty of Discourse 4

§§ 3 -9. Relations to Logic, iBstlietics, Etbics, Grammar, and Elocution 6

CHAPTER HI.

OF THE UTILITY OF EHETORIC.

§§ 10, 11. Fact and Degree 16

CHAPTER IV.

OF DISCOURSE AND ITS KINDS.

§§ 23-31. Derived Species — Epistolary Composition, Poetry, Representative Discourse 28

§§32-34. Forms of Oratory. — Judicial, Deliberative, Sacred . . 36 j

CHAPTER V.

OF THE DEPASTMENTS OF RHETORIC.

§ 35. Invention, Style 39

Vm CONTENTS.

FIRST GENERAL DIVISION - IN VENTION.

GENERAL VIEW.

CHAPTER I.

OP THE KATHKE AND PARTS OF INVBHTION.

PAOB

§ 36. Deftnition 43

Chapter I. General Introductory View

§§ 66-68. Nature of Explanation 57

§ 70. Laws — 1. of Unity; 2. of Selection; 3. of Method; 4. of Completeness gg

§ 71. Clearness and Distinctness g2

§§ 73, 74. Processes — Narration, Description, Division, Partition,

Exemplification, Comparison and Contrast ... 66

Chapter VI. Op Exemplification

Exercises in Exemplification 103

CHAPTER VIL

OF COMPARISON AND CONTRAST.

§107. Kinds— Simple, Analogical 106

Exercises in Comparison and Contrast .... 109

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER Vm.

OP THE INTRODUCTION AND PERORATION IN EXPLANATORY DISCOHRSB.

PAOK

§§ 113, 114. Introduction — Explanatory, Conciliatory . . • H" §§115,116. Peroration — Forms, Order m

PABT n. — CONFIRMATIOIS".

Chapter I. General Introductory View

§§ 117-119. Object, Theme, Process 112

§§ 120-122. Regard to Mind addressed 114

CHAPTER H.

OF THE THEME IN CONFIRMATION.

Chapter III. Of Peoof

§§125-127. Nature, Kinds, Process 118

§128. The Topics 120

Chapter IV. Of The Topics

§ 130. General Division of Proofs 122

§§131-133. Analytic Proofs .123

§§134-136. SyntheticProofs — 1. Intuitive; 2. Empirical . . 124

§§ 137-141. Antecedent Probability 130

§§ 142-146. Signs — Testimony, Authority 135

§155. Complex Arguments . . . .V^. ... 148

§156. Validity of Empirical Proofs 151

§ 157. Applicability of Arguments to different Subjects ... 151

Chapter I. Of The Hatobe Of Style

§242. Analysis 209

CHAPTER U.

OF THE GENERAL PBOPERTIEa OF 8TTLE.

§§243, 244. Divisions — Absolute, Relative 211

PART I. — ABSOLUTE PROPERTIES.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL VIEW OF LANGUAGE AND ITS PROPERTIES.

§§246-249. Divisions — Oral, Suggestive, Grammatical . . .216

CHAPTER n.

OF THE ORAL PROPERTIES OF STYLE.

§§250,251. Divisions — Euphony, Harmony 218

CHAPTER IIL

OF EUPHONY. _'

§§ 253-255. Principles of Euphony 222

XIV CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV.

FAGX

§§256,257. Nature— Divisions, Harmony Proper, Rhythm, Melody 225 §§258,259. Harmony Proper, Definition, Principles ... 226

CHAPTER V.

OP RHYTHM.

§§ 260-263. Definition, Principles 230

CHAPTER VI.

OF MELODY.

§§ 264, 2^. Definition, Kinds 235

§ 266. Melody of Proportion — Nature, Principles .... 236

§§ 267-271. Melody of Arrangement — Nature, Principles . . 239

Exercises on the Oral Properties of Style 245

CHAPTER Vn.

OF THE SUGGESTIVE PBOPEBTIES OF STYLE.

§§274-280. Imitative Properties 247

§§ 281-283. Symbolical Properties 253

Exercises on the Suggestive Properties .... 257

CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE GRAMMATICAL PROPERTIES OF STYLE.

§§284-287. Kinds, Standard of Purity 258

§ 290. Solecisms 262

§§ 291, 292. Improprieties 264

Exercises on the Grammatical Properties .... 266

PART n. — SUBJECTIVE PROPERTIES.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL VIEW.

5 293-295. Definition, Divisions 273

CONTENTS. XV

Chapter II. Op Sigmifioahce In Style

PAGE

§ 296. Requisites 276

fepT. Spurious Oratory 276

f298. Tlie Nonsensical 277

CHAPTER in.

OF CONTLmJOUSNESS IN STTLE.

§§299,300. Definition, Modes of Expressing 280

CHAPTER IV. OF NATITBALNESS IN STYIiB

§§ 801-305. Definition, Fonns 283

PART m. — OBJECTIVE PEOPERTIES.

Chapter I. General View

§§ 306-309. Definition, Kinds 289

CHAPTER n.

OF CLEARNESS IN STYLE.

§§ 310, 311. Definition, Source 292

§ 312. Kinds of Words required 293

§313. Number of Words 296

§ 314. Representative Imagery 297

§§ 315-318. Structure of the Sentence, Relative Words, Arrangement

of Members, Parentheses 299

Chapter III. Of Energy In Sttle

§§ 319, 320. Definition, Kinds 303

§§ 321, 322. Proper Energy, Sources 304

§ 824. Representative Imagery 306

§§ 326-329. Arrangement, Unity, Capital Members, Coordinate Members .......... 308

§ 330. Figurative Energy, Sources 312

XVI CONTENTS.

PAOB

§§ 334r-337. Simple Tropes — Synecdoche, Metonymy . • • ^"

§ 338. Metaphors 316

§§339,340. Repetition, Ellipsis 318

§ 341. Representative Imagery, Species ?f°

§ 342. Vision, Personification, Hyperbole 319

§ 343. Comparison or Contrast 321

§§ 345-349. Inversion, Anacoluthon,Aposiopesis, Sententiousness . 327

§§ 350-353. Principles of Figurative Expression 330

Chapter IV. Of Beauty Ih Style

§§ 354, 355. Definition, Elements 332

§356. Propriety 335

§§359-362. Culture of Beauty 339

Exercises on the Objective Properties of Style . . . 341