School Reading by Grades: Sixth Year Part 22

PRINCIPLES OF GOOD READING.

To become a good reader, patient and long-continued practice is necessary. We learn to read by much reading and never by the study of formal rules. Nevertheless, a knowledge of the following general principles and definitions may be of some value in a.s.sisting the learner to acquire correct habits in the practice of oral reading.

p.r.o.nUNCIATION.

Under this term are included Articulation, Syllabication, and Accent.

Correct articulation requires that each letter, syllable, and word should be clearly and properly p.r.o.nounced. Incorrect articulation is the result either of careless habits or of natural defects. In either case, it may be largely overcome by persistent and careful drill in the p.r.o.nunciation of those words in which the greatest difficulty is experienced. Conversation, declamation, calisthenics, singing, and similar exercises should be engaged in, in order to a.s.sist in overcoming habits of timidity or diffidence, and to give increased power and flexibility to the vocal organs.

Syllabication and accent are learned by careful observation and by reference, in all cases of doubt, to some standard dictionary.

EXPRESSION.

Correct expression in reading has reference to tone of voice, inflection, pitch, emphasis, all of which are included under modulation.

TONE.

Tone, or quality of voice, is the kind of sound employed in reading or speaking. A conversational tone is such as is used in ordinary conversation for the expression of quiet or unemotional thoughts. A full tone of voice is used in the expression of high or lofty sentiments, and of feelings of joy, courage, or exultation. A middle tone is used in the rendering of expressions which while not conversational in character are too unimpa.s.sioned to require a full tone. A low or subdued tone is used in pa.s.sages where the sense requires a suppression of sound. The only rule necessary is this: _Study so to regulate the tone of voice that it shall always be in harmony with the thoughts expressed._

INFLECTION.

Inflection is the upward or downward movement of the voice in speaking or reading. There are two inflections: the _rising inflection_, in which the voice slides upward; and the _falling inflection_, in which the voice slides downward. Sometimes there is a union of the two inflections upon a single sound or syllable, in order to express surprise, scorn, irony, sorrow, or other strong or peculiar emotion.

This union of inflections is called _circ.u.mflex_. No rule for inflections can be given which is not subject to numerous exceptions.

The movement of the voice, whether upward or downward, is in all cases determined by the thought in the sentence. _That inflection should be used which will a.s.sist to convey, in the most natural and forcible manner, the meaning intended by the author._

PITCH.

Very closely related to tone and inflection is pitch, by which is meant the degree of elevation of the voice. Pitch may be _middle_, _high_, or _low_. Middle pitch is that which is used in common conversation and in the expression of unemotional thoughts. Light and joyous emotions and lively narration require a high pitch. Pa.s.sages expressing sadness, deep joy, dignified serenity of mind, and kindred emotions, require a low pitch. Hence, the only rule to be observed is this: _Let the pitch be always in harmony with the sentiments to be expressed._

EMPHASIS.

Emphasis is any change of pitch, or variation of the voice, which serves to call special attention to an important word, syllable, or expression. The only rule that can be given for securing correctness of emphasis is: _Be natural._ Children, in ordinary conversation, never make mistakes in emphasis. If they are made to understand what they are reading, have not been permitted to imitate incorrect models, and are not hampered by unnecessary rules, they will read as well as they talk. Let reading be but conversation from the book, and not only emphasis, but pitch and inflection will require but little separate attention, and no special rules.

PAUSES.

Pauses in reading are necessary to make the meaning clear or to a.s.sist in the proper modulation of the voice and therefore in the correct rendering of the sentiments of the author. The former are called grammatical pauses, and are indicated by the marks of punctuation; the latter are called rhetorical pauses, and depend for their correct usage upon the reader's understanding of the thoughts which he is endeavoring to render. In reading poetry, a slight pause is generally proper at the end of each line, and sometimes also at the middle of each line. The latter is called the _caesural_ pause. The object of poetic pauses is simply to promote the melody.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS.

=Abbott, Charles Conrad=, the author of the essay on "The Robin" (page 197), is an American writer and naturalist. He was born at Trenton, N.

J., in 1843. He is an ardent lover of nature, and has written several delightful books on subjects relating to popular science and outdoor life. Among these are "Birdland Echoes," from which the above-named essay is taken; "A Naturalist's Wanderings about Home," and "Waste Land Wanderings."

=Aytoun= (a'toon), =William Edmonstoune=, the author of the selection ent.i.tled "The Pa.s.s of Killiecrankie" (page 138), was a Scottish lawyer and poet. Born in Edinburgh, 1813; died, 1865. He was for many years one of the editors of "Blackwood's Magazine." He wrote "Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers," "Ballads of Scotland," and other poems.

=Blackmore, Richard D.=, the author of "Lorna Doone," is an English lawyer and novelist. Born in Berkshire, 1825. Besides "Lorna Doone,"

he has written "Alice Lorraine," "Springhaven," "The Maid of Sker,"

and several other stories.

=Browning, Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett=, the author of "The Romance of the Swan's Nest" (page 98), was an English poet. Born in Durham, England, 1806. In 1846 she married Robert Browning, and during the rest of her life resided chiefly at Florence, Italy, where she died in 1861. She wrote "Prometheus Bound" (1833), "Aurora Leigh" (1857), and many shorter poems.

=Bryant, William Cullen=, the author of "The Death of the Flowers"

(page 18), was one of the most popular of American poets. Born at c.u.mmington, Ma.s.s., 1794; died at New York, 1878. Besides his poems, he wrote translations of Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," and was for more than half a century one of the editors of "The Evening Post" (New York).

=Buckley, Arabella Burton=, is an English author and naturalist. Born at Brighton, England, 1840. She has written several books on scientific subjects for young readers: "The Fairy Land of Science,"

from which our selection is taken (page 29), "Winners in Life's Race,"

and "Life and her Children."

=Campbell, Thomas=: A British poet and critic. Born at Glasgow, Scotland, 1777; died, 1844. He wrote "The Pleasures of Hope,"

"Hohenlinden," "Lochiel's Warning," and many other well-known poems.

"=Cloister and the Hearth, The=": An historical romance, by Charles Reade, first published in 1861. The scenes are laid mostly in Holland and Italy, and the time is the middle of the fifteenth century. See page 153.

=Collier, W. F.=, author of the sketch on "Life in Norman England" (page 89), is an English historian. He has written "The History of the British Empire," "A History of England," and several other similar works.

=Cowper, William=: A celebrated English poet. Born, 1731; died, 1800.

His princ.i.p.al work was "The Task," from which our brief selection (page 196) has been taken. He wrote also "John Gilpin," "Tirocinium,"

and several other poems.

"=David Copperfield, The Personal History of=": A novel, by Charles d.i.c.kens, first published in 1849. "Of all my books," says d.i.c.kens, "I like this the best." Many scenes in the novelist's own life are depicted in this story. The character from whom the book took its name is a timid boy reduced to desperation by the cruelty of his stepfather, Mr. Murdstone. At ten years of age he is sent to a warehouse in London, where he was employed in rough work at a small salary. He finally runs away, and is protected and adopted by an eccentric maiden lady, Miss Betsey Trotwood. He becomes a writer, and marries a gentle, innocent little lady, whom he calls his "child wife"; she dies, and he afterwards marries a woman of stronger mind, named Agnes Wickfield. The selection which we give (page 121) is a fair example of the style which characterizes the story.

=d.i.c.kens, Charles=: The most popular of English novelists. Born, 1812; died, 1870. Wrote "The Pickwick Papers," "Nicholas Nickleby," "Oliver Twist," "David Copperfield," from which our story of "The Shipwreck"

(page 121) has been taken, and numerous other works of fiction.

=Drake, Joseph Rodman=, author of "The American Flag" (page 206), was an American poet. Born at New York, 1795; died, 1820. His princ.i.p.al work was "The Culprit Fay," written in 1816.

=Everett, Edward=: An American statesman and orator. Born at Boston, Ma.s.s., 1794; died, 1865. He was editor of the "North American Review,"

member of Congress, Governor of Ma.s.sachusetts, President of Harvard College, Secretary of State in the cabinet of Millard Fillmore, and United States Senator from Ma.s.sachusetts. His orations and speeches fill four volumes.

=Froude, James Anthony=: A noted English historian. Born, 1818; died, 1894. His chief work was a "History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada." He also wrote four volumes of "Short Studies on Great Subjects," "Caesar, a Sketch," "Life of Lord Beaconsfield," "Life of Carlyle," etc.

=Hemans, Mrs. Felicia=: An English poet. Born at Liverpool, 1793; died, 1835. She wrote numerous short poems, which were at one time very popular. She is best remembered in this country as the author of "The Landing of the Pilgrims" (page 195), "Casabianca," and similar pieces.

=Hogg, James=: A Scottish poet, often called from his occupation the Ettrick Shepherd. Born, 1770; died, 1835. Among his poems are "The Queen's Wake" (1813), "The Pilgrims of the Sun" (1815), and many short pieces.

=Howells, William Dean=: An American novelist and poet. Born at Martinsville, Ohio, 1837. He was for ten years editor of the "Atlantic Monthly." He has written numerous novels, several short comedies or farces, and a volume of poetry. Our selection is from one of his latest works, "Stories of Ohio," a series of sketches relating to the settlement and early history of that commonwealth.

=Hunt, James Henry Leigh=, author of the poem ent.i.tled "The Glove and the Lions" (page 119), was an English essayist and poet. Born, 1784; died, 1859. His chief poem is "The Story of Rimini"; his princ.i.p.al prose works are "Life of Lord Byron" (1828), and "Autobiography" (1850).

"=Idylls of the King=": The first part of this n.o.ble poem by Lord Tennyson appeared in 1859, and the remaining parts were issued at various intervals until its completion. It comprises twelve books, or poems, which should be read in the following order: "The Coming of Arthur," "Gareth and Lynette," "The Marriage of Geraint," "Geraint and Enid," "Balin and Balan," "Merlin and Vivien," "Lancelot and Elaine,"

"The Holy Grail," "Pelleas and Etarre," "The Last Tournament,"

"Guinevere," "The Pa.s.sing of Arthur." Taken together in this order, these various poems present a complete and connected history of King Arthur and his knights. See page 216.

=Ingelow= (in'je lo), =Jean=: An English poet and novelist. Born at Boston, Lincolnshire, 1830; died, 1897. Wrote "Off the Skelligs,"

"Fated to be Free," "A Motto Changed," several children's books, and numerous poems.

=Irving, Washington=: An eminent American writer. Born, 1783; died, 1859. His princ.i.p.al works are "Columbus and his Companions" (from which the extract beginning on page 25 is taken), "The Sketch Book,"

"Tales of a Traveler" (1824), "The Conquest of Granada" (1829), "The Alhambra" (1832), "Oliver Goldsmith" (1849), "Mahomet and His Successors" (1850), "Life of George Washington" (1859).