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Chapter 1. “Warmth of thought” in Walter Nash’s prose and verse

  • Susan Cockcroft and Robert Cockcroft
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Style, Rhetoric and Creativity in Language
This chapter is in the book Style, Rhetoric and Creativity in Language

Abstract

This chapter explores the means through which Walter Nash engages readers of his prose and verse, centring on the concept of “warmth of thought”, which derives from Quintilian. Discussion of the poetry stresses the significance of the word “heart”, especially in personal and religious contexts – and in translation of Horace as representative of the secular tradition. It shows how the resources of verse are adapted by Nash as a poet, at once confessional and broadly empathetic, and how he explores the uses and resources of prose, in a whole range of genres, as seen in his publications beginning with Designs in Prose. Throughout, “warmth of thought” is a dominant characteristic as he enlightens, encourages and entertains both readers and prospective writers.

Abstract

This chapter explores the means through which Walter Nash engages readers of his prose and verse, centring on the concept of “warmth of thought”, which derives from Quintilian. Discussion of the poetry stresses the significance of the word “heart”, especially in personal and religious contexts – and in translation of Horace as representative of the secular tradition. It shows how the resources of verse are adapted by Nash as a poet, at once confessional and broadly empathetic, and how he explores the uses and resources of prose, in a whole range of genres, as seen in his publications beginning with Designs in Prose. Throughout, “warmth of thought” is a dominant characteristic as he enlightens, encourages and entertains both readers and prospective writers.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. An indicative list of publications by Walter Nash 9
  6. Chapter 1. “Warmth of thought” in Walter Nash’s prose and verse 11
  7. Chapter 2. Chrysanthemums for Bill 37
  8. Chapter 3. The doubling of design in Walter Nash’s Rhetoric 57
  9. Chapter 4. Riddling: The dominant rhetorical device in W. H. Auden’s “The Wanderer” 77
  10. Chapter 5. “My Shakespeare, rise” 85
  11. Chapter 6. Discourse presentation and point of view in “Cheating at Canasta” by William Trevor 101
  12. Chapter 7. Doing and teaching 113
  13. Chapter 8. Fact, fiction and French flights of fancy 127
  14. Chapter 9. Common Language 149
  15. Chapter 10. “Americans don’t do Irony” 171
  16. POEM
  17. Defunct Address 193
  18. Name index 195
  19. Subject index 199
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.34.03coc

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. An indicative list of publications by Walter Nash 9
  6. Chapter 1. “Warmth of thought” in Walter Nash’s prose and verse 11
  7. Chapter 2. Chrysanthemums for Bill 37
  8. Chapter 3. The doubling of design in Walter Nash’s Rhetoric 57
  9. Chapter 4. Riddling: The dominant rhetorical device in W. H. Auden’s “The Wanderer” 77
  10. Chapter 5. “My Shakespeare, rise” 85
  11. Chapter 6. Discourse presentation and point of view in “Cheating at Canasta” by William Trevor 101
  12. Chapter 7. Doing and teaching 113
  13. Chapter 8. Fact, fiction and French flights of fancy 127
  14. Chapter 9. Common Language 149
  15. Chapter 10. “Americans don’t do Irony” 171
  16. POEM
  17. Defunct Address 193
  18. Name index 195
  19. Subject index 199
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