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a pungent, but not offensive style, terse and simple, rather than elevated; the copious use of moral sentences and axioms. No fixed number of parts is assigned to the satire; it commences, sometimes, by insinuation, and sometimes abruptly, by a sudden emotion of the writer. The task of exposing and censuring the habits and acts of men, is a very difficult one; yet, it belongs to a community; and its performance is sometimes demanded by the public weal; but it must be fulfilled by competent and irreproachable persons, and in an inoffensive manner. This sort of poetry properly belongs to the didactic, or instructive poetry. The satires of Horace, Juvenal, and Persius, are the great ancient models of imitation, to be followed in this species of composition. Among modern writers, the ethical epistles of Pope, and Dr. Young's writings, offer superior examples of the didactic style.

7. The Ode, a Greek word, meaning "a song," and more particularly a song accompanied by the lyre-an ancient musical instrument-is" a short, dignified poem, consisting of unequal

To whom does the task of censuring the acts of men belong; and by whom should it be exercised?

Name some eminent didactic writers, both ancient and modern.

(7.) Give the derivation and definition of the word Ode.

Why is this kind of poetry called lyric?

verses, in stanzas or strophes; whereby the wishes, acts, festivities, and calamities of men; the descriptions of places, and other subjects, are sung by the poet." This kind of poetry is called Lyric. The special qualities of the lyric poem, or ode, are sublimity of style, and metrical melody. Pindar and Horace, among the ancient lyric poets, and among the modern, Dryden, Pope, Collins, Gray, and Warton, present superior examples of the lyric ode.

8. The Hymn is "a particular kind of ode, or song, having respect, principally, to the praise of God, and other religious subjects." Hence, it constitutes a sacred lyric poetry, which is used in religious service. Watts, Pope, Addison, Logan, Cowper, Montgomery, Edmeston, among the modern writers, have excelled in this kind of composition.

9. The Eclogue is "a pastoral poem, called, also, Bucolic; in which shepherds are introduced, conversing with each other, upon subjects re

What are the special qualities of the Lyric Poem?

Mention some eminent lyric poets in ancient and modern times.

(8.) What is a Hymn?

What English writers excelled in this kind of composition

in modern times?

(9.) What is an Eclogue?

lating to pastoral life." Therefore, the subject of this composition is a select one; whence the Greek appellation, eclogue, which means a "selection," seems to have originated. This kind of

poetry is called pastoral. Theocritus, and Virgil, are by right considered to be the great fathers of pastoral poetry; Pope, and Philips, have been their imitators, in the English language. The peculiar characteristic of the pastoral poem, or eclogue, consists in the simplicity of the manners and language of the persons introduced.

10. The Sonnet is "a short poem of fourteen lines, comprising two stanzas of four verses each, and two of three verses each; in which the rhymes are adjusted according to a certain rule." The subject of a sonnet is very extensive, and may be either a description of a person or thing; or the expression of an emotion of the mind. Its principal qualities are, suitableness of style to the subject; comprehensiveness, and conciseness of sentiment. Among the distinguished writers of sonnets are, Petrarch, Shakspeare, Milton, and Wordsworth.

Why is this composition so named?

Who are the fathers of pastoral poetry, and who are their imitators in English?

(10.) What is a Sonnet?

What is the subject, and what are the qualities of the sonnet?

Mention some of its distinguished writers.

11. The foregoing comprise the principal classes of poems. Any other description, or narration, written in verse, bears the general name of poem.

ARTICLE III.

OF THE PARTICULAR QUALITIES OF THE NOVEL, ROMANCE, AND DRAMA. OF COMEDY, TRAGEDY, TRAGI-COMEDY, AND FARCE.

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1. A novel, from the Latin word novus new," as applied to a certain kind of literary composition, signifies, "a prosaic narration, partly true and partly fictitious, of some recent and extraordinary adventures of a person, whereby human passions are vividly displayed; particularly that of love."

2. The subject, object, plot, and qualities, which belong to the novel, have already been explained, in the first article of this chapter. As, however, in the novel, romance, and drama, the object of the writer seems to be principally directed to the exhibition of the passion of love,

(11.) What is the general name of a description or narration, written in verse?

(1.) What is a Novel?

(2.) What is the principal object of a writer of a novel, and to what must, theretore, the plot and ornaments be subservient?

and its results; so it is necessary that the plot and ornaments described in Paragraphs III and IV, be chiefly adapted to that particular purpose.

3. The novel, romance, and drama, require no exordium, necessarily; but the writer may begin the narrative from any point or part of the story; selecting, however, a pleasing and interesting one, which may at once captivate the attention of the hearer, or reader, and rouse his curiosity. The writer must diligently observe, that what should have preceded in the narration, according to the order of events, and has been omitted, be related afterwards, either by himself, or by one of the persons introduced, in the novel, romance, or drama.

4. The judicious selection of the subject, the ingenious conception, and skilful execution of the plot; the insight of the object, clear, yet covered; the proper use of the ornaments, neither excessive nor defective; the delicate choice and representation of motives for love;

(3.) Do the novel, romance, and drama, necessarily require any exordium ?

From what point of the story or play, must the writer commence the narrative?

What must a writer diligently observe?

(4.) Is the writing of a novel an easy task? Why not?

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