analysis, we have deemed it unnecessary to note in particular all the points, whereby the narration conforms with the rules or definitions; for they are apparent in the narrative, and the pupil can easily indicate them if necessary.

This method of analyzing and criticising a composition, and extracts from authors in general, should be strictly followed by students on all kinds and subjects of composition; and they may rest assured, that on the frequent practice of this excellent and necessary exercise, will chiefly depend their faculty of writing and criticising well a work of literature in after times.

I.-EXERCISE.

9. Find an oratorical narration in your Rhetorical Reader; make a general and particular analysis, according to the method shown in the foregoing praxis.

II.-EXERCISE.

Narrate in an oratorical manner the death of Lincoln.

Analyze your composition, and show how you have observed the general and particular qualities demanded by it.

CHAPTER III.

OF FICTITIOUS AND

SEMI-FICTITIOUS

TIONS.

NARRA

1. A fictitious narration, which admits a high degree of probability, and also a narration partly true and partly fictitious, if it comprise a single event, and is written in prose, is called a Parable; if it comprise a series of notable events, connected with the acts of a conspicuous person, and is written in verse, is termed an Epic Poem; and if written in prose, is either a Novel, or Romance: but if such a narrative, either in verse or prose, is designed to be spoken, and represented by stage-actors, as actually occurring, the composition is then styled a Drama.

2. When in a poem, novel, romance, and drama, facts, or adjuncts are introduced, which are either absurd, or very improbable, that part of

(1.) When is a fictitious and semi-fictitious narration called a parable?

When is it termed an Epic Poem?

When is it a Novel, Romance, or Drama?

(2.) When are a poem, novel, romance, and drama, called

fabulous?

the poem, novel, romance, and drama, is called fabulous; such are the poems of the ancient classics, which abound in mythology, and personification of inanimate things, according to the notions of the Pagan Era.

3. Parables, which are designed chiefly to instruct, or to illustrate a proposition, must be probable and simple in style. The Gospel affords beautiful examples of this kind of composition; which, however, is in our days obsolete.

4. Omitting, therefore, parables, we shall detail the general and particular qualities and rules of the Epic Poem, Novel, Romance, and Drama, and their subordinate branches, in three distinct articles.

ARTICLE I.

OF THE GENERAL QUALITIES, PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF THE EPIC POEM, NOVEL, ROMANCE, AND DRAMA.

1. The general qualities of the Epic Poem, Novel, Romance, and Drama, relate to four heads, viz: FIRST, the subject; SECOND, the object; THIRD, the plot; FOURTH, the peculiar ornaments.

(3.) What must be the qualities of parables?

What book offers beautiful examples of parables? (1.) To what do the general qualities of an epic poem, novel, romance, and drama, relate?

2. The subject of each of the four named classes of composition, are the acts, partly true and partly fictitious, of a conspicuous person, who is, therefore, called the hero of the narrative; and also the extraordinary incidents naturally connected with the principal subject.

3. The object of the narrator is triple, viz: the hearer or reader's information, amusement, and instruction; which eomprises the following of virtue, and the shunning of vice.

4. The plot is the plan conceived by the narrator, of relating his tale.

5. The ornaments peculiar to these species of composition, are principally seven, to-wit: Peripetia, Recognition, Episode, Machine, Characters, Epiphonema, Fine Diction.

6. We shall expound the qualities of each head in four separate paragraphs.

TI. QUALITIES OF THE SUBJECT.

1. The qualities of the subject of a poem,

(2.) What constitutes the subject of each of the four named classes of composition?

(3.) How many-fold is the object of the narrator in each of them?

(4.) What is the plot?

(5.) How many are the ornaments peculiar to those species of

composition?

novel, romance, and drama, are chiefly four: First, unity; second, completeness; third, truth or probability; fourth, successful termination, with respect to the Epic Poem, Novel, Romance, and Comic Drama; and sorrowful termination, with regard to the Tragic Drama.

2. Unity of the subject means, that the principal action of the hero, which forms the main body of the narrative, and is therefore, called the primary action, be one and entire, and well connected with the secondary actions; also, that the hero of the narrative be one. Thus, in the Epic Poem of Virgil, the primary action which forms the main subject of the narrative, is the foundation of a kingdom in Italy by Eneas, who is, therefore, the hero of the narrative. Although in semi-fictitious narratives, it is not necessary to follow the order of time of events; yet, no integral part of the narrative must be omitted.

3. Completeness of the subject signifies, that its recital must be complete; hence the narration (1.) How many are the qualities which relate to the subject of a poem, novel, romance, and drama?

(2.) What does unity of subject mean?

Give an example?

Is it necessary, in semi-fictitious narrations, to follow the order of time of events?

(3.) What does completeness of the subject mean?