He lived the life of the Orient, wondering at its marvellous pomps; and often, after having enjoyed the terrible spectacle of a hurricane on this plain, where the sands were lifted up and formed red, dry mists, death-bearing clouds, he watched with joy for the coming of night, for then a healing refreshment fell from the stars to whose imaginary music he would listen. BALZAC. Useful words in expressing connection and relations of time, cause, result, etc., are the following: since, because, as soon as, meanwhile, when, then, at last, however, so, if, although, after, before, whereupon, still, thereupon, instantly, immediately; and the relatives who, which, and that for introducing relative clauses. Such words as these, and the participial construction, help to keep the time sequence. For example, read the above quotation and note the effect of the expressions wondering, often, after having enjoyed, where, to whose. EXERCISE 57 1. Examine some of the narratives you have written in connection with Exercise 56 (p. 226) to see if you cannot avoid some of the and's by adopting the suggestions given in § 296. Make the scenes more real by using descriptive words. 2. Write the story of one or more of the following: (a) Washington's winter at Valley Forge. (b) The Boston Tea Party. (c) Braddock's defeat. (d) Major André's capture. (e) Dewey's victory at Manila. (f) How Washington crossed the Delaware. 3. Look over what you have written in exercise 2 to see if you have used the right verb forms to express time. Can V you use descriptive words to advantage here? Revise your work with this in mind. 4. Write a short biography of the character in history in whom you are most interested. 5. Write a short account of the life of some prominent person whom the class knows. Do not give his name, but include the well known and important facts of his life. See if the class can tell who he is. 6. Bring to class examples of narratives which suggest pictures. 7. Tell the story suggested by some picture to which your teacher refers you. Remember that the picture presents but a single moment in the story. 8. Write the story of Perry's victory on Lake Erie. Pay particular attention to your phraseology. 9. Make an outline of one of the following; write the story from your outline; make use of descriptive words. (a) The discovery of America. (b) Daniel Boone and the founding of Kentucky. (c) The landing of the Pilgrims. 10. Tell the story suggested in the following. Bring in conversation and tell your story in such a way that pictures will be suggested. (a) An escape from Indians. (b) A dog's heroic deed. (c) An adventure in the woods. (d) An experience with an automobile. 11. Write the narrative suggested by the picture "The Discovery of the Hudson." 12. Tell an incident from the lives of the people pictured in "The Frugal Meal" (page 212). CHAPTER V DESCRIPTION 297. Definition of Description. In the study of narration we have seen that the writer often tells his story in such a way that the reader pictures the scenes and characters. The whole story then is a series of pictures following one another in quick succession. These pictures are suggested to the mind of the reader by means of the presentation of certain details. Such a presentation of details, the aim of which is to suggest a picture to the mind of a reader or hearer, is a description. This form of discourse occurs alone, but is more frequently found in connection with narration. 298. Purpose of Description. The purpose of description is to present the thing described so that the reader may see it as the writer has seen it, that both may have the same impression. Hence clearness is an essential quality of all description. In order to give a clear description, it is necessary (1) to observe closely and form a clear mental picture, (2) to bring out the main features and give a general impression of the object described, (3) to add the details essential to present the complete picture, by means of descriptive words. 299. Pictures and Description. It is not to be expected that a description can present an object or scene as clearly and accurately as a picture can. It cannot, for instance, make the fine distinctions in color and outline, nor can it present the details in a single instant as a picture can. Nevertheless a description has a few advantages over a picture. A picture gives only those images which can be received through the eye, while a description may give sound, odor, motion, temperature, sense of feeling, and other impressions which the picture can only suggest. Moreover, the description can tell what went before and what came after the single instant represented in the picture, which oftentimes remains unintelligible simply because it cannot tell what has preceded. In the following description, what details could not be portrayed in a picture? It was pretty late in the autumn of the year, when the declining sun, struggling through the mist which had obscured it all day, looked brightly down upon a little Wiltshire village, within an easy journey of the fair old town of Salisbury. Like a sudden flash of memory or spirit kindling up the mind of an old man, it shed a glory upon the scene, in which its departed youth and freshness seemed to live again. The wet grass sparkled in the light; the scanty patches of verdure in the hedges where a few green twigs yet stood together bravely, resisting to the last the tyranny of nipping winds and early frosts took heart and brightened up; the stream which had been dull and sullen all day long, broke out into a cheerful smile; the birds began to chirp and twitter on the naked boughs, |