11. The foregoing comprise the principal classes of poems. Any other description, or narration, written in verse, bears the general name

OF THE PARTICULAR QUALITIES OF THE NOVEL, ROMANCE, AND DRAMA. OF COMEDY, TRAGEDY, TRAGI-COMEDY, AND FARCE.

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1. A novel, from the Latin word novus new,' as applied to a certain kind of literary composition, signifies, "a prosaic narration, partly true and partly fictitious, of some recent and extraordinary adventures of a person, whereby human passions are vividly displayed; particularly that of love."

2. The subject, object, plot, and qualities, which belong to the novel, have already been explained, in the first article of this chapter. As, however, in the novel, románce, and drama, the object of the writer seems to be principally directed to the exhibition of the passion of love,

(11.) What is the general name of a description or narration, written in verse?

(1.) What is a Novel?

(2.) What is the principal object of a writer of a novel, and to what must, theretore, the plot and ornaments be subservient?

and its results; so it is necessary that the plot and ornaments described in Paragraphs III and IV, be chiefly adapted to that particular purpose.

3. The novel, romance, and drama, require no exordium, necessarily; but the writer may begin the narrative from any point or part of the story; selecting, however, a pleasing and interesting one, which may at once captivate the attention of the hearer, or reader, and rouse his curiosity. The writer must diligently observe, that what should have preceded in the narration, according to the order of events, and has been omitted, be related afterwards, either by himself, or by one of the persons introduced, in the novel, romance, or drama.

4. The judicious selection of the subject, the ingenious conception, and skilful execution of the plot; the insight of the object, clear, yet covered; the proper use of the ornaments, neither excessive nor defective; the delicate choice and representation of motives for love;

(3.) Do the novel, romance, and drama, necessarily require any exordium ?

From what point of the story or play, must the writer commence the narrative?

What must a writer diligently observe?

(4.) Is the writing of a novel an easy task? Why not?

finally, the use of select language, are requisites which demand superior attainments in the writer of a novel. To write a good novel is just as difficult an undertaking, as to write a fine epic poem; the difference between the two species of composition mainly consisting in one being written in prose, the other in verse. And yet, many persons who would not dare the attempt of writing an epic poem, being fully aware of their incapacity, rashly undertake the hard work of the novel; but, as a natural result, their strength soon gives way; and their utter exhaustion makes them objects of public pity.

5. Romance, from the Latin word romanicus, signified, in former times, a metrical narration, written in the language called Romanic, on account of its being a mixture of the Latin and foreign languages; in which narration the chivalrous, gallant, and religious deeds of a hero, or a heroine, were displayed. Such narrations were, afterward, written in prose; and the signification of the word romance was extended to all novels, treating of the surprising adventures of a hero, or a heroine. Hence, according to modern acceptation, there seems to be no other difference

(5.) Whence is the word Romance derived?

What was the subject of a romance in former and subsequent times?

between romance and novel, except, that the former relates principally to the gallant deeds of a person, either recent or ancient; and the latter to all sorts of adventures, particularly those of a recent date.

6. The object, plot, qualities, and rules, of the romance, are similar to those of the novel.

7. Drama, from the Greek verb drao, to do, to perform, is "a narration, in prose or verse, comprising a series of notable events, connected with the acts of a conspicuous person; which are designed to be spoken and represented as actually occurring, by different actors on the stage."

8. The object, plot, general qualities, and rules, of the drama, coincide with those of the epic poem, novel, and romance. Its particular qualities are the following:

The first particular quality refers to the completeness or integrity of the subject, which, in dramatic language, is called action. This is generally divided, by good writers, into five parts,

(6.) What are the object, plot, qualities and rules of a romance? (7.) What is the derivation of the word Drama?

Give its definition.

(8.) What are the object, plot, qualities and rules of the drama? What is the first particular quality of the drama?

called acts. The first act is similar to the exordium of a narration; it contains a general idea of the subject, and is therefore called, by dramatic writers, argument. The second act contains the commencement of the plot, or complication of events. The third comprises the knot, or the highest point of complication. the fourth act, the solution of the knot commences; and in the fifth, the solution, and end of the whole plot, is satisfactorily given.

In

9. The acts are subdivided into scenes, which word, although it signifies the decorations of a stage; yet, as these are often changed in the different portions of an act, so, in dramatic language, it signifies the different parts of an act. A scene is denoted, not so much by the change of the painted decorations of the stage, as by the advent, or departure, of one or more actors. In ancient times, acts were divided into few scenes; not so in modern times.

10. The number of actors in a drama, ac

Into how many parts is a dramatic subject, or action, divided by writers generally?

State the subject of each act, in particular.

(9.) How are the acts subdivided?

What does a scene properly denote, and what does it mean

in dramatic composition?

How is a scene indicated?

How many scenes do acts admit?