With the ascension of Charles I to the throne we come at last to the Central Period of English
History (not to be confused with the Middle Ages, of course), consisting in the utterly
memorable Struggle between the Cavaliers (Wrong but Wromantic) and the Roundheads
(Right but Repulsive). Charles I was a Cavalier King and therefore had a small pointed beard,
long flowing curls, a large, flat, flowing hat and gay attire. The roundheads, on the other hand,
were clean-shaven and wore tall, conical hats, white ties and sombre garments. Under these
circumstances a Civil War was inevitable.
229
Sometimes in law alliteration is naturally occurring. For example, “Law Lords”
to refer to judicial members of the House of Lords contains both assonance
and alliteration. The celebrated case of Hedley Byrne v Heller
delivered the
action for negligent advice to English common law with a mild taint of
alliteration.
230
It was a significant step down from the preceding case, which
had denied the existence of the tort but contained the seed for future growth in
the dissenting judgment of Lord Denning. This case was named Candler v
Crane Christmas and Co, which alliterated from woe to go while at the same
time denying any remedy to the distressed plaintiff.
231
Where sound appeal is not naturally occurring it can be used to lighten a dull
subject. In doing this it should not be either forced or overdone. In these
circumstances as in many others, more is less.
Imagery
Imagery is a general and wide ranging term for the use of words not for literal
meaning but for an effect on our senses and emotions. There are probably
several things at work.
First, one of the most obvious ways in which words have an impact on our
feelings is through their surrounding aura or connotations. Many words not
only denote some thing or idea, but conjure up feelings and associations. Thus
in terms of plain meaning the choice from among available words may not
matter much, but the connotations or imagery that they evoke will be different.
For example, consider the difference between house, home, abode, residence
and domicile. They all mean a place to live, but house is a building, home is
warm, abode is archaic and distant, residence is a bit grand and domicile is
legal. Choosing one of these words rather than another gives the writing a
special slant or flavour.
___________________
229
WC Sellar, RJ Yeatman's (1930) 1066 and All That Methuen
230
Hedley Byrne v Heller [1964] AC 465, [1963] 2 All E.R. 575
231
Candler v Crane Christmas & Co
[1951] 2 KB 164; [1951] 1 All ER
426; 36 Digest (Rep 1) 17; [1951] 1 TLR 371
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