Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to assess certain substantial similarities or differences between prose style as it existed in the nineteenth century and the prose style which characterizes the present century. The prose selections to be studied have been chosen with reference to two considerations in order to insure the presence of some means of limitation and unity. First of all, only the works of British authors are to be considered. Secondly, only expository prose will be considered. It is realized, however, that one rarely finds one of the four divisions of rhetoric exemplified in a pure form. Therefore it must be said that the selections chosen are those in which the primary purpose of the author is exposition; that is, the chosen selections are those in which the primary endeavor of the author is "an attempt to explain a work, an object, a process, anything, in terms of its logical relationships." One might find some elements of description, narration, or argumentation, but they would be incidental rather than predominant.