When the two parts of a question are connected by the conjunction or, the first has the rising and the last the falling inflection. Example: 46 Who was the greater man, Cæsar or Alexander?" The same rule exists when an affirmative and an egative are opposed to each other. Example. "He deserves censure, not eulogy." Breaks are pauses which cut a subject short before the meaning is fully developed. They generally occur when extreme grief or violent rage agitates the human breast. Example. "Darkness and demons! Saddle my horses; call my train together: TRAGEDY OF LEAR. The period should be marked by a depression of voice, sufficient to denote the completion of the sense, but great care must be taken not to lower the tone to such a degree as to endanger the loss of the last word of the line, or sentence: a fault frequently observable, even in some eminent public speakers. XIV. IRONY. Irony is a rhetorical figure, which gives a meaning contrary to the words expressed, and is productive of very great effect, if not too frequently used. Irony admits of various modes of delivery agreeing with the subjects which may occur, but monotone is most used. Irony often excites our laughter, and sometimes our contempt and disgust. The three first examples which follow make us smile, the last elicits our disgust. Examples. "What drugs, what charms, what conjuration, and what mighty magio.” OTHELLO. "Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last MERCHANT OF VENICE. Charming house, and charming lady of the house, ha! ha! ha!" "No wars have ravaged these lands, and depopulated these villages-no civil discord has been felt, no disputed succession, no religious rage-no cruel enemy-no affliction of Providence, which, while it scourged for a moment, cut off the sources of resuscitation-no voracious and poisoning monsters-no; all this has been accomplished by the friendship, generosity and kindness of the English nation." SHERIDAN AGAINST WARREN HASTINGS. XV. ALLITERATION. Alliteration is a figure which occurs when several words, commencing with the same letter, immediately follow each other. If too often used it will pall; but if seldom resorted to, it will give a pleasing variety to the subject into which it is introduced. This figure is read or spoken in monotone, climax, anti-climax, and parenthesis. Examples. The sun, the soil, but not the slave the same.” "And hath a sound, And sense, and sight of sweetness." "Unknell'd, uncoffined, and unknown." LORD BYRON. Ibid. Ibid. "He rush'd into the field, and foremost fighting fell." Ibid. "The humanity, harmony, and happiness DWYER. "Mind, manners, magnanimity, mercy, Ibid. "Man is *obnoxious to pain, penury, and pestilence."-Ibid This word is often improperly used both in speaking and writing for noxious. XVI. INTERROGATION. Of all figures, this is the most overwhelming and rapid; but it should never be employed in unfolding the principles upon which a discourse is established; for it causes obscurity, and a species of declamation, offensive to persons of good taste. The success of interrogation is infallible, when properly employed. A memorable example of it occurs, when Tully, unable to express the lively indignation of his patriotic zeal, rushes abruptly upon Catiline, and instantly overwhelm him by the vehemence of his interrogations. "How long, Oh Catiline, wilt thou abuse our patience? How long shall thy madness elude us? Whither will thy ungovernable audacity impel thee? Could neither the nightly garrison of the citadel, nor the watch of the city, nor the general consternation, nor the congress of all good men, nor this strongly fortified place where the Senate is held, nor the enraged countenances of those senators, deter thee from thy impious designs? Dost thou not perceive that thy counsels are all discovered? Thinkest thou that there are any of us ignorant of thy transactions the past night, the place of rendezvous, thy collected associates?" By using such language as this, the orator leaves not a moment's time for false or evasive replication, but paralyzes the accused, by irresistibly showing the extent and enormity of his guilt, thus rendered as apparent to the astonished auditor, as it is overwhelming to the trembling criminal. Dr. Blair says, "Interrogations are passionate figures. They are, indeed, on so many occasions, the native language of passion, that their use is extremely frequent: and in ordinary conversation, when men are heated, they prevail as much as in the most sublime oratory. The unfigured literal use of interrogation is to ask a question; but when men are prompted by passion, whatever they would affirm, or deny, with great vehemence, they naturally put in the form of a question; expressing thereby the strongest confidence of the truth of their own sentiments, and appealing to their hearers for the impossibility of the contrary. Thus, in scripture: "God is not a man-that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent. Hath he said? and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken? and shall he not make it good ?” Demosthenes addressing himself to the Athenians, says, "Tell me, will you still go about and ask one another, what news? What can be more astonishing news than this, that the man of Macedon makes war upon the Athenians, and disposes of the affairs of Greece? Is Philip dead? No, but he is sick. What signifies it to you whether he be dead or alive? For if anything happen to this Philip, you will immediately raise up another." All this, delivered without interrogation, had been faint and ineffectual; but the warmth and eagerness, which this questioning method expresses, awaken the hearers, and strike them with much greater force." XVII. ITERATION OR REPETITION Iteration serves to strengthen and enforce argument, and in many instances, produces great force and beauty. Iteration should be read or spoken in the same manner as the subject from which the repetition occurs. Examples. "As Cæsar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him." "There are tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his valor; and death for his ambition." JULIUS CESAR. "There still remains that which is even paramount to the law. That great tribunal which the wisdom of our ancestors raised in this country for the support of the people's rights-That tribunal which has made the law-That tribunal which has given me you to look at-That tribunal which is surrounded with a hedge as it were set about it-That tribunal which from age to age has been fighting for the liberties of the people, and without the aid of which it would have been in vain for me to stand up before you, or to think of looking round for assistance." ERSKINE FOR TOOK, ON TRIAL BY JURY. "With thee conversing I forget all time, XVIII. PERSONATION. Personation is the representation by a single reader or speaker of the words, manner and actions of one person, or of many individuals, as if he or they were themselves reading or speaking; in effect "giving form to fancy, and embodying thought." This power is capable of producing an effect nearly equal to scenic representation, in which each part is individually performed. Indeed, if the reader or reciter be adequate to the task, he may elicit an approbation far surpassing that received by the many, for he seems to concentrate all their powers within himself. The person so gifted must be a consummate reader or speak er. This figure is more materially connected with dramatic than any other style of composition, although it is sometimes resorted to in all oratorical subjects. It depends upon a perfect conception of the Author's meaning, a facility of imitation, and a variety of expression in voice and manner, which can only be acquired, even where the capability eminently exists, by much labor and continual practice. |