Let no one mistake loudness for animation.  A whisper may be more vital, more animated than a shout.  The slightest quiver of a muscle may reveal greater intensity of thought than the most violent gesticulation.  Yet since freedom and abandon of the agents of expression are necessary to their perfect service, let the teacher invite that freedom and abandon without fear of sacrificing good taste.  He is not to be regarded as an artist yet; nor is it now profitable to measure him by the criteria of art.  Let the form of his expression be as crude as it may, only let it be born of the thought.  The student is learning to think on his feet; and the act of mental concentration upon his author’s thought in relation to his audience is not at first a simple task.  Do not hurry him in his development.  Remember that expression to be truthful, must be spontaneous.  The teacher needs only to hold the right objects of thought before the pupil’s mind, then stand aside and let him grow in nature’s own way.  No thought of the how should be allowed to enter the student’s mind while he is speaking, it is only the what that concerns him.  Form is born of spirit; the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The requirement of the present chapter is met when the student is able to fix the attention of those who listen upon the central idea or theme of the selection.  The whole or unit of thought should be held before the pupil’s mind, and by him, before the mind of the audience, attention not yet being directed specifically to parts.

Analysis.

The basis of intelligent vocal interpretation of literature is careful analysis.  One cannot express shades of meaning that are not in the mind; until one clearly perceives the motives and relationships of the selection, he cannot reflect them to others.  Too much cannot be said upon the importance of thorough thought and study of a selection previous to any effort toward expression.  It is needless to explain that one cannot give what he does not possess; and it is equally self-evident that one gains by giving.  Long and thoughtful quiescent concentration should precede the concentration of mind while speaking.  The author’s words are like a gold mine which must be searched by thorough digging for the nuggets of thought beneath.  The pupil must live with his author, see through his eyes, think with his intellect, feel with his heart, and choose with his will, picturing to himself every scene, putting himself in the place of every character described.

Like every organism every true work of art has organic unity; it represents a unit of thought, the whole, made up of essential parts.  Each part is a part of the whole, because in its own way it reflects the whole.  The perfect unity of an organism or of a work of art results from the service rendered by each part to every other part.