| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Ion by Plato: (Phaedr.), and should be treated with every sort of respect (Republic), but
not allowed to live in a well-ordered state. Like the Statesmen in the
Meno, they have a divine instinct, but they are narrow and confused; they
do not attain to the clearness of ideas, or to the knowledge of poetry or
of any other art as a whole.
In the Protagoras the ancient poets are recognized by Protagoras himself as
the original sophists; and this family resemblance may be traced in the
Ion. The rhapsode belongs to the realm of imitation and of opinion: he
professes to have all knowledge, which is derived by him from Homer, just
as the sophist professes to have all wisdom, which is contained in his art
of rhetoric. Even more than the sophist he is incapable of appreciating
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: MISS HARDCASTLE. Did you call, sir? Did your honour call?
MARLOW. (Musing.) As for Miss Hardcastle, she's too grave and
sentimental for me.
MISS HARDCASTLE. Did your honour call? (She still places herself
before him, he turning away.)
MARLOW. No, child. (Musing.) Besides, from the glimpse I had of her,
I think she squints.
MISS HARDCASTLE. I'm sure, sir, I heard the bell ring.
MARLOW. No, no. (Musing.) I have pleased my father, however, by
coming down, and I'll to-morrow please myself by returning. [Taking
out his tablets, and perusing.]
She Stoops to Conquer |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: work, and cuts out--for we make our own clothes, our frocks, and
pelisses, and everything; the little one with black hair is Miss
Scatcherd; she teaches history and grammar, and hears the second
class repetitions; and the one who wears a shawl, and has a pocket-
handkerchief tied to her side with a yellow ribband, is Madame
Pierrot: she comes from Lisle, in France, and teaches French."
"Do you like the teachers?"
"Well enough."
"Do you like the little black one, and the Madame -?--I cannot
pronounce her name as you do."
"Miss Scatcherd is hasty--you must take care not to offend her;
Jane Eyre |
