English: Composition and Literature

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28097

Title

English: Composition and Literature

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

W. F. Webster's "English: Composition and Literature" rejects rigid rhetoric in favor of spontaneous expression. This text-book guides high school students through constructing living wholes of composition, prioritizing narration and description before exposition and argument. By analyzing masterpieces from Hawthorne to Stevenson, it teaches that true eloquence springs from genuine interest and emotional engagement rather than forced exercises, fostering the ability to communicate ideas with both intellectual clarity and emotional depth.

Summary up to 500 words

In *English: Composition and Literature*, W. F. Webster presents a pioneering approach to writing instruction that rejects mechanical drills in favor of integrating intellect and emotion. Webster argues that effective composition arises not from correcting isolated errors or mimicking rarefied language forms, but from constructing "living wholes" where every sentence serves a unified purpose. He contends that the full expression of thought requires both intellectual clarity and emotional engagement; just as a boy cannot be compelled to laugh or cry, a writer cannot be forced to express deep feeling without genuine interest in the subject. Consequently, Webster advocates for a curriculum that begins with narration, the most natural and spontaneous form of discourse. By starting with stories, students gain confidence and freedom before advancing to description, exposition, and argument. Webster emphasizes that literature serves as the best instructor for composition, urging students to study masters like Irving for narration, Ruskin for description, and Macaulay for exposition to understand universal principles of unity, mass, and coherence. The text distinguishes between simple sequences of time and complex plots driven by cause and effect, teaching writers to select subjects that are interesting, common yet not trivial, and thoroughly understood. Ultimately, Webster's method ensures that a writer's own experience and enthusiasm drive the construction of a whole, resulting in work that possesses the beauty and strength found only when mind and feeling work in concert. By focusing on the construction of wholes rather than isolated exercises, the book aims to inspire students to use the most apt comparisons and best words to present their thoughts worthily to others.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Rhetoric
• English Language