Elements of Criticism, Volume III.

"Elements of Criticism, Volume III" by Lord Henry Home Kames is a scholarly treatise written in the mid-18th century. The book delves into the nature of literary criticism, focusing particularly on the use of comparisons and figures of speech in literature. Kames emphasizes the significance of these rhetorical tools in enhancing the reader's understanding and emotional engagement with texts. The opening of this volume introduces the chapter on comparisons, outlining their dual purpose: to instruct the understanding and to elicit pleasure from the heart. Kames explains the different methods by which comparisons can affect perception, such as emphasizing similarities and contrasts among ideas or objects. He cautions against inappropriate comparisons, illustrating his points with examples from classical literature, including works by Shakespeare and Milton, to demonstrate how comparisons can elevate or depress subjects depending on their execution. The content sets the stage for a deeper exploration of literary devices and their impact on reader experience. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Henry Home, Lord Kames was a Scottish writer, philosopher and judge who played a major role in Scotland's Agricultural Revolution. A central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, he was a founding member of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh and active in The Select Society. Home acted as patron to some of the most influential thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment, including philosopher David Hume, economist Adam Smith, writer James Boswell, philosopher William Cullen and naturalist John Walker.