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Power in Prose Style

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Guido, Aug 31, 2024.

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  1. Guido

    Guido Active Member

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    When reading the King James Bible, we are moved by its content, but we are moved also by the power of its language, in sound and in brevity, being moved also by its power in clarity, though the Bible is yet to be fully understood. Can other writings, through composition, also have this quality, and is it sinful to endeavor for such?
     
    #1 Guido, Aug 31, 2024
  2. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    If you mean the language and style, then yes. Many works of literature achieve even greater beauty of language. What we often romanticize about in antiquated poetic styles is the fact they are antiquated and set apart from the vernacular.

    But if you mean content, then Scripture stands alone.

    I love reading the KJV for its language. While perhaps an inferior translation today, the KJV harkens to a time when language was more of an art form.
     
    #2 JonC, Aug 31, 2024
  3. Guido

    Guido Active Member

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    So then, how do I write in a prose style which is succinct and rhythmically moving, and also sophisticated? And is rhythm achieved through the placement of stressed and unstressed syllables, or through syntax? Upon what elements of language should one's mind focus, in order to achieve rhythm?
     
    #3 Guido, Aug 31, 2024
  4. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    The best thing to do is read. But don't try to force sophistication. Be legitimate.

    I love poetry. Here is a poem by Nicanor Parra. Nicanor Parra is considered to have been one of the most influential Chilean poets.


    Young Poets by Nicanor Parra

    Write as you will
    In whatever style you like
    Too much blood has run under the bridge
    To go on believing
    That only one road is right.

    In poetry everything is permitted.

    With only this condition of course,
    You have to improve the blank page.
     
    #4 JonC, Aug 31, 2024
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  5. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Find part of the lilt and beauty of the AV1611 is that they employed words that were NOT the vernacular. People did NOT call each other "thee" or "thou" in normal everyday speech in 1611. Remember, the AV was a new "arrangement" but NOT, for the most part, a new translation. 85% was word for word copy from Geneva, with other from Tyndale/Coverdale translations. 75 years earlier the "thee" and "thou" were part of the evolving away "Middle" English as it was replaced by "Early Modern" English. AV translators made conscious choices to use somewhat older, "dignified" words.

    Note how the lilt/phrasing of the Geneva (70 years earlier) sounds? A couple updated words and spelling in the AV, but the rest "borrowed".

    The Lorde is my shephearde, I shall not want.
    He maketh me to rest in greene pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters.
    He restoreth my soule, and leadeth me in the paths of righteousnesse for his Names sake.
    Yea, though I should walke through the valley of the shadowe of death, I will feare no euill: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staffe, they comfort me.
    Thou doest prepare a table before me in the sight of mine aduersaries: thou doest anoynt mine head with oyle, and my cuppe runneth ouer.
    Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall followe me all the dayes of my life, and I shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lord.
     
    #5 Dr. Bob, Oct 1, 2024 at 12:37 PM
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  6. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Thanks, Dr. Bob.
     
    #6 Scarlett O., Oct 1, 2024 at 12:52 PM
  7. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    The Bay Psalm Book of 1640 was the first book printed in America.
    It was a congregational song book... the Bible put to rhyme and song.
    Note that the spelling, lettering and even words have changed a lot since then.

    One of the few remaining copies was sold in 2013 for 14.2 million dollars!

    "It's a book that was not created to be fancy or splendid or valuable in any way other than the significance of its content," says Derick Dreher, the director of Philadelphia's Rosenbach Library, one of the few institutions to hold a Bay Psalm Book. But because the congregation for which it was created literally used the book to death, very few of the copies have survived.​

    Read what the transcribers said about the verses in it's pages:

    "If therefore the verses are not alwayes so smooth and elegant as some may desire or expect; let them confider that Gods Altar needs not our pollishings: Ex. 20. for wee have respected a plaine translation then to smooth our verses with the sweetnes of any paraphrase, and soe have attended Conscience rather then Elegance, fidelity rather then poetry, in translating the hebrew words into english language, and Davids poetry into english meetre…" [Bay Psalm Preface, page 13]​

    {You must read this psalm with a rhythm and search for rhyme]


    Psalm 23
    A Psalme of David


    THe Lord to mee a shepheard is,
    want therefore shall not I.
    Hee in the folds of tender-grasse,
    doth cause mee to downe to lie:

    To waters calme me gently leads
    Restore my soule doth hee:
    he doth in paths of righteousnes:
    for his names sake leade mee.

    Yea though in valley of deaths shade
    I walk, none ill I’le feare:
    because thou art with mee, thy rod,
    and staffe my comfort are.

    For mee a table thou hast spread,
    in presence of my foes:
    thou dost annoynt my head with oyle,
    my cup it over-flowes.

    Goodnes & mecy shrely shall
    all my dayes follow mee:
    and in the Lords house I shall dwell
    so long as dayes shall bee.
     
    #7 Deacon, Oct 1, 2024 at 12:57 PM
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