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TEXT-BOOK

OF

ANALYSIS AND COMPOSITION.

BY

J. STOKER,

TEACHER Of english language, STOCKWELL TRAINING College.

LONDON:

W. STEWART & CO., HOLBORN VIADUCT STEPS, E.C.
EDINBURGH: J. MENZIES & CO.

2709

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ANALYSIS AND COMPOSITION.

THE term analysis is derived from two Greek words, ana, 'up,' and lusis, 'loosening.' The word means loosening or resolving anything into the elements of which it is composed.

The elements of which a family is composed are father, mother, and children. The elements of which a class is composed are the children or students belonging to the class.

The elementary parts of a plant are its root, stem, branches, leaves, blossoms, and fruit. The elementary parts of a flower are its calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil.

The elements of a written word are the letters of which it is composed, while the elements of a spoken word are the sounds of which it is composed. The elements of a phrase are the words of which it is composed, and the elements of a sentence are the phrases of which it is composed.

When we take a word to pieces we analyze that word. Spelling is analysis of written words; thus the word dog is analyzed when we state that it is made up of the letters d, o, and g.

So when we take phrases to pieces we analyze them. Thus the phrase A very good | man' | is analyzed when we show that it has four elements. Parsing is the analysis of phrases.

The parts of the compound phrase | The houses of Parliament' have each two elements: 'the' and 'houses' being the elements of the first, and of' and 'Parliament' the elements of the second.

We analyze sentences when we point out the phrases of which they are composed; thus the sentence | The Canterbury Tales | were written by Chaucer' | is divisible into three phrases; and the sentence 'James the First, | through his daughter Elizabeth, | was the ancestor | of the Hanoverian kings' is divisible into four phrases.

Many sentences have for their elements single words instead of phrases. The sentence 'Water | freezes | is made up of single words; and the sentence Experience | teaches | men | wisdom' is made up of four single words.

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Most sentences are made up of both single words and phrases; thus 'The lark | sings | sweetly | in the morning air' is a sentence composed of both words and phrases. 'Queen Victoria | governs | Canada | by deputy' | is a sentence affording an example of the same kind.

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