cr own readers

288 FIGURES OF SPEECH.
1. Interrogation is an assertion put in the form of a question;
as,-
"'Vho can p..aIntIike N ature ! "= .J.Yo one can paint like Nature.
" Who does not hope to live long? "=Every one hopes to live long.
2. Exclamation is an assertion in the form of an inte rjection
or cry; as,-
((' Vhat a piece of work is man!"= ) 1an is a very wonderful piece of
work.
3. Climax is a series of assertions or exclamations increas ing in
strength ; as,-
U'Vhat a piece of work is man! how noble in reason ; how infinite in
facultics ; in form and moving, how express and admirable ; in action,
how like an nngel ; in apprehension, how like a god ! "-SHAKESPEARE.
Climax means an ascending scale or ladder. Th e name may apply to
a series of sentences in a paragraph , or to a ser ies of paragraphs in a
chapter or discourse. A sudd en fall at the close of a series is termed an
aiui-climax,
Figures of speech should be used sparingly in composition. A
large number of comparisons, contrasts, and illustr at ions perplexes
the mind of the reader, and offends against good taste.