The Rhetorical Reader: Consisting of Instructions for Regulating the Voice, With a Rhetorical Notation, Illustrating Inflection, Emphasis, and Modulation; and a Course of Rhetorical Exercises

The Rhetorical Reader: Consisting Of Instructions For Regulating The Voice, With A Rhetorical Notation, Illustrating Inflection, Emphasis, And Modulation; And A Course Of Rhetorical Exercises by Ebenezer Porter. This 1833 edition, published for use in academies and high schools, provides a comprehensive course in elocution and rhetorical delivery. Porter revises and abridges his earlier Analysis of Rhetorical Delivery, outlining key principles—reading, articulation, inflection, emphasis, and modulation—along with a practical notation system and a curated set of exercises drawn from British and American writers. The book balances theoretical discussion with concrete practice, emphasizing how voice, sentiment, and gesture convey meaning. It includes directions for teachers, a detailed Key of Rhetorical Notation, and two parts of exercises on articulation, inflection, emphasis, and modulation, as well as selections on the reading of poetry and rhetorical dialogue. The Preface explains the book’s aim to prevent habitual faults in elocution and to promote effective, morally anchored public speaking.