Line upon line, precept upon example;
The multitude may gape and look
And fools may think your wisdom ample—
But would you touch the heart, the only method known,
My friend, is first to have one of your own.
Mood-Analysis
The following is an illustration of what might be called the “mood-analysis” of a selection. For the sake of convenience the sentences in the excerpt are numbered. The important thing for the student to bear in mind is to see that the author’s purpose is completely grasped, and then render it in the proper mood.
First: Read the selection paragraph by paragraph. Then arrange the several points in their respective order. Now give them orally as simply and progressively as possible.
Second: Read the selection again by paragraphs and this time determine what are the important and unimportant words. Then give these important words a greater force of utterance.
Third: Do not fear to make many groups. It is imperative to grasp the author’s ideas and pictures in separate detail. When each of these has been well thought over, we are then ready to put these separate parts into one complete and harmonious whole.