Q1 of 10 Page 180

Many sentences and paragraphs in the excerpt begin with the word ‘And’. To what extent does this contribute to the rhetorical style of the lecture?

John Ruskin gave ‘What is a Good Book’ as a public lecture in the nineteenth century. His style of speaking is more fluid and conversational as compared to an essay. His repetitive use of ‘And’ or ‘but’ helps in explaining an idea even further. It is more spontaneous like an interaction rather than written and rewritten like an essay.


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2

Discuss in pairs

Choice of diction is very crucial to the communication of meaning.

 1

The text is an excerpt from Sesame and Lilies which consists of two essays, primarily, written for delivery as public lectures in 1864. Identify the features that fit the speech mode. Notice the sentence patterns.

 2

The lecture was delivered in 1864. What are the shifts in style and diction that make the language different from the way it is used today?

 2

Study each of the following sentences and notice the balance between its parts. Pick out other sentences in the text that reflect this kind of balance

a. It is right that a false Latin quantity should excite a smile in the House of Commons; but it is wrong that a false English meaning should not excite a frown there.


b. Let the accent of words be watched, by all means, but let the meaning be watched more closely still, and fewer will do the work.