Delsarte System of Oratory eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 452 pages of information about Delsarte System of Oratory.

Delsarte System of Oratory eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 452 pages of information about Delsarte System of Oratory.

8. The alternative.  One foot in a straight line behind the other, the weight of the body on both.  This attitude is offensive and defensive.

9. Defiance.  The weight of the body on the foot that is behind, the other foot diagonally forward; head thrown back.

Delsarte never classed the basic attitudes under the heads of concentric, normal or excentric, any more than he so classed gestures.  He simply gave them in the above sequence.

Lesson VII.

The Medallion of Inflection.

The Key to all Gestures

[Illustration]

[Illustration:  down arrow] Affirmation. [Illustration:  right arrow on top; left arrow on bottom] Negation. [Illustration:  up arrow] Hope. [Illustration:  top right to bottom left arrow] Rejection of things
               that harm us.
[Illustration:  bottom left to top right arrow] Rejection of things
               that we despise.
[Illustration:  upward facing curve] Ease, comfort (resembles a hammock). [Illustration:  downward facing curve] Silence, secrecy. [Illustration:  () curves] Plenitude, amplitude. [Illustration:  )( curves] Delicacy, grace. [Illustration] Physical beauty. [Illustration] Beauty of intellect.

[Illustration:  Example (complex curve)]

[Illustration:  down arrow] “You may believe [Illustration:  right arrow] that no lord [Illustration:  complex curve] had as much glory or happiness.”

Mme. Geraldy’s Lessons On Lafontaine’s Fables.

The Wolf and the Lamb.

Might makes right; we shall prove this presently.

A Lamb was quenching his thirst in a stream of pure water.  A Wolf, in quest of adventures, happened by, drawn to the spot by hunger.

“What makes thee so bold as to pollute the water I drink?” said he, angrily.  “Thy impudence deserves to be punished.”

“Sire,” answered the Lamb, “soften your wrath, and consider that I am drinking the water more than twenty feet below your Majesty, and can, therefore, in no way pollute your Majesty’s drink.”

“You do pollute it!” replied the savage animal, “and I know that last year you slandered me.”

“How could I when I was not born?” replied the Lamb.  “I am still a suckling babe.”

“If it was not you, then it was your brother.”

“I have none.”

“Then it was some member of your family, for you do not spare me—­you, your shepherds and your dogs.  I have been told so.  I must revenge myself.”

Thereupon the Wolf carried him into the depths of the forest, and ate him without further trial.

Lesson Given By Mme. Geraldy.

In the narrative portions of a recitation, the eyes of the speaker should meet the eyes of the audience.  In this way he fixes their attention and engages their sympathy.

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Delsarte System of Oratory from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.