--Why may we say that
this farmyard scene is surrounded by an atmosphere of plenty, happiness,
and content? Which do you prefer, the first sentence above, or this
substitute for it: "The large barn was entirely full of the products of the
farm"? Give every reason that you can find for your preference. We often
speak of a barn or storehouse as "bursting with plenty," or of a table as
"groaning with a load of good things," when there is really no bursting nor
groaning. Such expressions are called +Figures of Speech+. Examine the
second sentence and compare it with the following: "The men were busy all
day pounding out the grain with flails." Do the words _busily resounding_
joined to _flail_ bring into our imagination men, grain, pounding, sound,
and perhaps other things? A good description mentions such things and uses
such words as will help us to see in imagination many things not mentioned.
In the third sentence would you prefer _skimmed_ to _flew_? Why? Compare
the eighth sentence with this: "Large fat hogs were grunting in their pens
and reposing quietly with an abundant supply of food." _Sleek, unwieldy
porkers_ would be too high-sounding an expression for you to use
ordinarily, but it is in tone with the rest of the description.
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