143. SYNOPSIS OF A VERB

The synopsis of a verb is a shortened form of its conjugation. Synopsis is the arrangement of the forms of the verb in one number and person in all modes and tenses. A partial synopsis of the verb be in the indicative mood, active voice, singular and plural number follows, Principal parts: Present, be. Past, was. Perfect Participle,

This will suggest the form of synopsis for all verbs.

There were fewer letters than usual today.
We should eat less candy.

Less sweet food, fewer sick children.

19. Common Errors Corrected

144. STUDYING A PICTURE FOR APPRECIATION THE CHARIOT RACE

Do you like this picture? Did you ever see a picture that showed more action?

Can you tell where and when this race took place by looking at the costumes of the people and at the buildings in the distance?

Who do you think the people in the center of the track are?

Can you see the expressions on any of the faces? What do these expressions show?

Are the horses themselves trying to win?

Is driving a team like this difficult?

What is about to happen?

What do you like best in this picture?

If you were to visit Rome today you would see on the seats in theaters and street cars and many other public places the letters, S. P. Q. R. They stand for the Latin words which mean "the Senate and the Roman People."

Have you noticed the statues on the walls? the long whiplash so difficult to wield? the size of the amphitheater? What do the statues, the buildings in the background, and the size of the amphitheater indicate concerning the wealth of Rome?

Read the chariot race in the book, Ben Hur. Tell all you can find out about chariot races. Perhaps you can tell of a race which you have seen that has shown the spirit of this picture.

Bring in another picture or analyze one that is in your schoolroom.

145. CORRECTIVE VOICE EXERCISE

GOOD SPEECH AND ORAL INTERPRETATIONS

ELDORADO

Gaily bedight,

A gallant knight

In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,

Singing a song,

In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old—

This knight so bold

And o'er his heart a shadow

Fell, as he found

No spot of ground

That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow:
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be-

This land of Eldorado?"

"Over the mountains

Of the moon,

Down the valley of the Shadow,

Ride, boldly ride,"

The shade replied,

"If you seek for Eldorado!"

-Edgar Allan Poe

Much of the charm of poetry depends on its oral interpretation. Thoughtful practice in reading poetry so as to bring out the thought and feeling will result in great improvement.

Read the poem through silently for the thought. In preparing to read the first stanza, notice that the word-groups or phrases correspond with the lines.

In the second stanza the word-groups in the first two lines correspond with the lines, but the rest of the stanza should be read as if printed thus:

And o'er his heart a shadow fell, as he found no spot of ground that looked like Eldorado.

Remember, however, that there should always be a recognition of the rime without a singsong effect.

Note the insertion of a comma after fell to help the eye in reading. The comma is inserted to call attention to a slight pause after the clause.

Find the places in the third stanza where you would naturally pause in expressing the thought in prose. Sometimes a slight pause where no comma occurs must be made in reading.

For example, in the second line of the third stanza, there is a natural pause after, "as his strength failed him," but it is too slight to be marked by a comma.

Study the fourth stanza in the same way.

Select for special study the vowel sounds and find consonants that need the closest attention. Write on the blackboard some of the words containing these sounds.

Now stand in front of the class, and read the poem aloud as if you were telling the story to your friends. Your classmates will tell you whether:

1. You avoided a singsong effect.

2. You recognized the rime and rhythm.