Page 135 - DENG105_ELECTIVE_ENGLISH_II

Elective English–II

Notes or elucidate the author’s ideas. In much “classic” literature, allusions
are made to the Bible, to Greek and Roman writers, and to mythology.
However, allusions may be made to any field: history, politics, science, etc.
: The nature of the allusions affect both immediate comprehension of
the discourse as well as its eventual fate. While allusions enhance the
understanding of informed readers, they impede the comprehension of
those less knowledgeable. And if the allusions are to people, places,
events, and literary works of significance, they also help embed the
literature within the cultural cannon, enhancing its interest, relevance,
and longevity. On the other hand, if they point to minor events, little
known persons, or passing fads, the accessibility of the discourse is
eventually diminished, making it dated and obscure, a fit subject for
doctoral students writing dissertations. E. M. Forster’s essay “My Wood”
is rich in allusions of the first kind.
Anecdote : A brief narrative or story often serving to make a point. Anecdotal
evidence may be accumulated to substantiate a case or suggest a conclusion.
Or, an anecdote may be amusing or entertaining within itself. Anecdotes
may be fictional, or non-fictional. Anecdotes are often expressed orally,
but good anecdotes find their way into print. For example: Recall the
anecdote of George Washington, that he could not tell a lie when he
cut down the cherry tree.

10.5 Review Questions

1. Briefly describe The Right to Arms written by Edward Abbey.
2. Discuss The Right to Arms as an argumentative essay about democracy in South Africa.
3. Who was the audience of The Right to Arms by Edward Abbey?
4. Introduce Edward Abbey as an essayist. Discuss his life and works.

Answers: Self Assessment

1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (a)

10.6 Further Readings

Books Bishop, James, Jr., Epitaph for a Desert Anarchist: The Life and Legacy of Edward Abbey,
Atheneum, 1994.
Cahalan, James M., Edward Abbey: A Life , University of Arizona Press, 2001.

Dictionary of Literary Biography , Volume 256: Twentieth-Century American Western
Writers (Gale Group, 2002); Volume 275: Twentieth-Century American Nature Writers
(Gale Group, 2003).

Online links www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/style/phrases_clauses.html

130 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY