Repetition 10. Intentional repetition of words keeps the same thought prominent, and where the repetition is regular, as at the beginning of sentences and clauses (parallel repetition), it indicates that the thought has the same general direction. Parallel repetition is often found in emotional passages of speeches. Dependent repetition (see Interest of Sentences, Chapter III) is obscure as well as inharmonious. 11. In certain cases lack of repetition may produce obscurity. Repeat the article where the sense requires it. Purchase for me a red, white, and blue flag (one flag), and buy for Will a purple and a white pennant (two pennants). Send at once the Farmer and Barber Motors (one kind) and the Tailor and the Miller Lawn-mowers (two kinds). 12. Repeat prepositions, especially where other prepositions intervene. He was the first who taught me to weigh my words, and to be cautious in my statements. He led me to that mode of limiting and clearing my sense in discussion and in controversy, and of distinguishing between cognate ideas, and of obviating mistakes by anticipation, which to my surprise has been since considered, even in quarters friendly to me, to savor of the polemics of Rome. -NEWMAN: Apologia. The repeated "of" keeps clear the dependence of the three participial phrases. The preposition is not needed before "clearing" because the connection with “limiting” is close. Note also repeated infinitive sign and "in." 13. Repeat necessary words after "than," "as," and the like. He likes me more than (he does) Jim (does) and as much as (he likes) Tom (likes me). The omission of the words in parentheses makes the sense obscure. EXERCISE 2 1. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested that is some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. - BACON: Studies. Note the right words for the different actions of eating, to which reading is compared. The adverb "curiously" is used in the sense of carefully, a sense now obsolete. Reading is like eating, is the topic. Note parallel structure and repetitions. Subjects Develop the comparisons : Books are like friends (lights, traveling, teachers). 'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none POPE: Essay on Criticism. Sermons are like seeds. Poems are like flowers. Childhood shows the man, as the morning shows the day. - MILTON. Dress is like the index that tells the contents of the book. MASSINGER. 2. Nor were his mental endowments less adapted to the accomplishment of his object than the spirit with which he engaged in the work. Gifted with great versatility of talent, with acuteness, quickness of perception, skill in selection, art in arrangement, fertility of illustration, warmth of fancy and extraordinary taste, he at once seizes upon the most effective parts of his subject, places them in the most striking points of view and arrays them in the liveliest and most inviting colors. NEWMAN: Cicero. Note the repetition of "with," which ceases when the common bearing of the phrases is clear. The sentence with the initial participial phrase is a serviceable model, but in the use of such types the dependence of the participle should be clear. The independent, detached participle (dangling participle) is often a source of obscurity. Here the right words, parallel structure of phrases, and the correspondence between the two parts of the sentence in sound as well as in meaning, make all clear. The order of details and the picture of a painter suggested in the verbs are excellent. The words of the first sentence "than the spirit, etc." are transitional, summing up what went before, and may be neglected in the exercises. "Cicero's mental endowments were adapted to the accomplishment of his object, popularizing philosophy among the Romans," is the proposition, proved by enumerating the endowments and by explaining how they were adapted. Prove by apt detail: Subjects Mental endowments of a general, statesman, orator, inventor, etc., and their fitness. Moral endowments of a missionary (Damien, Xavier, etc.) suited to their work. Physical qualities of a nation, an athletic team, fit them for their work. Natural qualities of a city make it a good capital or port, etc. Be particular in each subject, discussing what you know by reading or experience. Suggest at the close a picture, differing from that of the model. 3. It is not a sheer advantage to have several strings to one's bow! If we had been all German, we might have had the science of Germany; if we had been all Celtic, we might have been popular and agreeable; if we had been all Latinized, we might have governed Ireland as the French govern Alsace, without getting ourselves detested. But now we have Germanism enough to make us Philistines, and Latinized Normanism enough to make us imperious, and Celtism enough to make us self-conscious and awkward; but German fidelity to Nature, and Latin precision and clear reason, and Celtic quick-wittedness and spirituality, we fall short of. ARNOLD: Celtic Literature. With Arnold repetition is almost a mannerism, but there is no mistaking his meaning except that some of his terms, as Philistines, are used in a technical sense and must be understood from their context. He is speaking of three strains in English blood, contrasting what Englishmen would be with any one national trait and what they are now with the mixed traits of three nations. Subjects Contrast in a like way: The effects on one of inherited traits of father and mother. The principles of different political parties in a government. "He is Jack of all trades and master of none." 4. Those political institutions are the best which subtract as little as possible from a people's natural independence as the price of their protection. The stronger you make the Ruler, the more he can do for you, but the more he also can do against you; the weaker you make him, the less he can do against you, but the less also he can do for you. The Man promised to kill the Stag; but he fairly owned that he must be first allowed to mount the Horse. Put a sword into the Ruler's hands, it is at his option to use or not use it against you; reclaim it, and who is to use it for you? Thus, if States are free, they are feeble; if they are vigorous, they are highhanded. I am not speaking of a nation or a people, but of a State as such; and I say, the more a State secures to itself of rule and centralization, the more it can do for its subjects externally; and the more it grants to them of liberty and self-government, the less it can do against them internally; and thus a despotic government is the best for war, and a popular government the best for peace. NEWMAN: Who's to Blame? Note how the parallel structure of the contrasted passages helps to clearness throughout. The paragraph balances the conflicting claims of independence and of protection in a state. The proposition of the opening sentence receives in the following sentences definition and proof, then illustration from a fable, then repetition by concrete definition, then further explanation through the advantages which result in peace and war. Subjects With parallel expansion and proof: Balance the conflicting claims of study and exercise. How far should system control freedom in business, or in vacation? Weigh the comparative advantages of large and small governing bodies, of the commission form of government and other forms. Contrast the good and evil in state control, of food, light, etc. 5. The characteristic peculiarity of his intellect was the union of great powers with low prejudices. If we judged of him by the best parts of his mind, we would place him almost as high as he was placed by the idolatry of Boswell; if by the worst parts of his mind, we should place him even below Boswell himself. Where he was not under the influence of some strange scruple, or some domineering passion, which prevented him from boldly and fairly investigating a subject, he was a wary and acute reasoner, a little too much inclined to scepticism, and a little too fond of paradox. No man was less likely to be imposed upon by fallacies in argument or by exaggerated statements of fact. But if, while he was beating down sophisms and exposing false testimony, some childish prejudices, such as would excite laughter in a well-managed nursery, came across him, he was smitten as if by enchantment. His mind dwindled away under the spell from gigantic elevation to dwarfish littleness. Those who had lately been admiring its amplitude and its force were now as much astonished at its strange narrowness and feebleness as the fisherman in the Arabian tale, when he saw the Genie, whose stature had overshadowed the whole seacoast, and whose might seemed equal to a contest with armies, contract himself to the dimensions of his small prison, and lie there the helpless Islave of the charm of Solomon. MACAULAY: Life of Johnson. Note all repetitions and test their effect on clearness by removing them. Where is repetition avoided? This is a paragraph of contrast, having the topic asserted in the first sentence and made more definite in the next sentence. Johnson's powers are then shown at work without prejudice and with prejudice. Subjects Repeating words for clearness : Tell how a man with political or national prejudices passes judgment on the actions or persons of his own and of another party or nation. Contrast the working of a matter-of-fact mind and of an imaginative mind on some fact. Contrast the effects of self-control and of anger on a man's conduct. The effects of success and failure on weak and on strong characters. (Take some one you know of from history, from literature, or from life.) |