The Art of Reading and Speaking (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX. PASSAGES FOR PRACTICE IN READING. Directions As To Passages That Follow. TnERE is no poet who presents such difficulties to a reader os Shakspere, and close beside him comes Milton.. But there are no two poets who offer to the student such scope for thought and feeling, or for acquiring the subtlety of character, the shades of voice, and the variety of expression which every good reader must possess. To most books that I have seen on the art of reading a large selection of miscellaneous readings has been appended. There is a ' legion' of such selections before the public. It would be easy for me to add to the bulk and price of this book by adopting such a plan. For in my own close study of the art of reading, I have been collecting choice pieces of poetry and prose for more than thirty years--enough to form a separate volume. But, in all the preceding chapters I have written entirely for students; and this has led me to append only a few choice passages from Shakspere and Milton--as a foundation practice--to which my readers can add any number of selected pieces they wish. My contention is that he who has once caught the spirit which I endeavour to infuse into these passages that follow is independent of teacher and book; he can select for himself, mark passages for himself, and interpret r himself. My whole aim in this book has been to show the student how to throw away all ' crutches, ' and to walk alone. I have thought much how I could best convey--on the printed page--my interpretation of the passages I have selected; and after much consideration, I have marked, in italics, each word on which, in my judgment, the voice should lean, or on which the emphasis and expression depend. This seems the simplest way of conveying what must be after all ...