Kevin Camitta Grace Cheng Madeline Le

1. “An Hour or Two Sacred to Sorrow” by Richard Steele Kevin Camitta Grace Cheng Madeline Le

2. Richard Steele • 17th – 18th Century • Richard Steele: Journalist, playwright • Joseph Addison: Successful diplomat, Whig politician, secretary of state • Both attended and met at Oxford University • Wrote and published The Tatler and The Spectator

3. Summary Some do not find value in all aspects of life We should respect and acknowledge the deceased Author can see more happiness than sadness in mourning His pain now is different than when he first grieved First sense of sorrow was upon the death of his father His mother’s reactions gave him a tender side Death is expected but you cannot prepare for it We already respect honorable servicemen

4. Authors’ Purpose • To express his view of grieving through personal experiences • To elucidate the true meaning of death • Reason with the reader that death isn’t solely about sorrow or depressing memories • Although death is expected, there is no way to prepare for it.

5. How His Purpose is Achieved • First-person narrative • Personal experiences • Tone • Optimistic in times of sorrow • Diction • Exaggerative word choice • Syntax • Contrasting sentence structure

6. First Person Narrative • I had to lament the loss of many of my friends […]” (126). • “The first sense of sorrow I ever knew was upon the death of my father, at which time I was not quite five years of age […]”(127). • “But gallant men, who are cut off by the sword, move rather our veneration than our pity”(128).

7. Tone • The author has very spirited attitude • Despite a droning subject, he finds a positive side • “And indeed, when we are advanced in years, there is not a more pleasing entertainment, than to recollect in gloomy moment the many we have parted with, that have been dear and agreeable to us, and to cast a melancholy thought or two after those, with, perhaps, we have indulged ourselves in whole nights of mirth and jollity” (126).

8. Diction • Extended use of dramatic and emotional vocabulary and phrases. • “There is not a more pleasing entertainment, than to recollect in a gloomy moment […] to cast a melancholy thought or two after those, with whom, perhaps, we have indulged ourselves in whole nights of mirth and jollity”(126). • “I went to my closet yesterday in the evening, and resolved to be sorrowful”(126). • “[…] before I was sensible of what it was to grieve, seized my very soul, and has made pity the weakness of my heart ever since”(127). • “We, that are very old, are better able to remember things which befell us in our distant youth”(127).

9. Syntax • Contrasting sentence structures provide an argument of increased magnitude. • “[…] life being to short to give instances great […]”(126). • “[…] not a more pleasing entertainment, than to recollect in a gloomy moment”(126). • “[…] without being quickened with desire, or retarded with despair […]”(127). • “[…] there was a dignity in her grief […]”(127). • “[…] enjoy that sweet anxiety […]”(127). • “[…] havoc which is made among the tender and the innocent […]”(128).

10. Pathos • Reader understands the different meanings of death through various given examples • Logos • Justifies his unusual logic on death by explaining how soliders gain respect as opposed to sorrow • Ethos • Author supports his interpretation of death with personal experiences Appeals

11. Effectiveness • Successful in justifying views • Reader is able to understand his reasoning • Not strong enough argument to completely sway views • Personal account is credible • Authentic examples • Meaningful personal