Communication requires that we transmit an idea in our minds to the minds of others.  Our words are imitations of our ideas and we cannot always share with others what they have not sensed or known.   Plain or "literal" language often does not allow us to express what we wish to or in the way we wish to and therefore man uses poetic or figurative language to do so.   

Poetic language allows us to apply a word that belongs to one thing to something else.  For example, King David wished to express his dependence on God, but did not do so in plain language :

"The Lord takes care of me..."

Instead, he made use of poetic language to move, delight and teach his hearers:

"The Lord is my shepherd..."

David thus uses a word that belongs to a keeper of sheep and applies it to something else--to the Lord.  Likewise, he refers to himself as the sheep in the Lord's care.  This poetic language adds richness and warmth to the psalm and draws us with David to this gentle Shepherd.  Such is the effect of poetic language.

The cultivation of a poetic mind is essential for all who would becomes masters in speech or writing.  Our minds must be cultivated to see the world as the great poets did and our speech must be adorned with rich poetic forms and imagery.  This course provides the beginning of this training, which will continue throughout life in those who seek it.

THE FIGURES OF SPEECH

Throughout history, men who wished to master  the art of eloquent speaking and writing compiled lists of common figures (or forms) of poetic speech used with great effect by the greatest speakers and writers.  These figures were organized and clarified over time. 

The Jesuit master Dominico de Colonia arranged the figures into two basic classes:  Figures of Sentences and Figures of Words.  Under Figures of Sentences comes three sub-categories:  (1) figures used for moving the affections, (2) for delighting the audience and (3) for teaching.  Under Figures of Words come two basic categories:  (1) Tropes and (2) Non-Tropes.  Under non-tropes are grouped (a) those formed by addition, (b) those formed by detraction and (c) those formed by similitudes.  This arrangement allows us to efficiently master the most common figures of speech and think of them as an ordered set of figures rather than as a random assortment of possible "techniques" as many treat them.

One of the great gifts God has given to us is the opportunity to make efficient use of the works of wise men of the past.  We do not need to begin the studies of Grammar, Arithmetic, Logic, and Rhetoric all over again!  

Many of use use the figures of speech naturally and many people speak with great eloquence without much study or training.  Unfortunately, many don't!  For those who have a natural eloquence it is important for them to understand what makes their speech eloquent.  For those who do not have such gifts, it is possible for them to learn them through the study of the art of eloquent speaking, known as Rhetoric.  In this course, we will study the figures of speech as an introduction to our future studies in Rhetoric.

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