The Chreia: ‘I tremble for my country...’
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.”
—Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, 1784-85.
Discovery List several facts about the author.
Founding Father of the United States
Discovery List several facts about the author.
Founding Father of the United States
Architect of the Declaration of
Independence and framer for the U.S.
government
Discovery List several facts about the author.
Founding Father of the United States
Architect of the Declaration of
Independence and framer for the U.S.
government
Sought the good of the country
Discovery List several facts about the author.
Founding Father of the United States
Architect of the Declaration of
Independence and framer for the U.S.
government
Sought the good of the country
Third President of the United States
1. EncomiumIntroduction: Write a sentence that introduces the author. Include a figure of description.
1. EncomiumIntroduction: Write a sentence that introduces the author. Include a figure of description.
The wisdom of (ethopoeia) Thomas
Jefferson should be pondered and
treasured.
1. EncomiumPraises: write three praises for the author.
1. EncomiumPraises: write three praises for the author.
He dedicated his immense talents and
abilities to establish a just and
righteous government for the people
of the United States.
1. EncomiumPraises: write three praises for the author.
He dedicated his immense talents and abilities
to establish a just and righteous government
for the people of the United States.
He sought the good of the entire country when
he might easily have dedicated himself to
personal enrichment alone as so many others
did.
1. EncomiumPraises: write three praises for the author.
He dedicated his immense talents and abilities to
establish a just and righteous government for the
people of the United States.
He sought the good of the entire country when he
might easily have dedicated himself to personal
enrichment alone as so many others did.
He accepted the burden of being the third President
of the United States.
1. EncomiumThesis: write a thesis statement, which states what you will speak about.
1. EncomiumThesis: write a thesis statement, which states what you will speak about.
Books might be written exclaiming
his wisdom but I will consider just his
concise saying on righteousness.
1. EncomiumRough draft: combine the introduction, praises, and thesis into a paragraph.
1. EncomiumRough draft: combine the introduction, praises, and thesis into a paragraph.
The wisdom of the great Thomas Jefferson should
be pondered and treasured. He dedicated his immense
talents and abilities to establish a just and righteous
government for the people of the United States. He
sought the good of the entire country when he might
easily have dedicated himself to personal enrichment
alone as so many others did. Books might be written
exclaiming his wisdom but I will consider just his
concise saying on righteousness.
2. Paraphrase List several synonyms for these words from the Chreia: tremble, country, reflect, God, and just.
tremble:
country:
reflect:
God:
just:
2. Paraphrase Sentence variations: Write four variations of the Chreia. Then draw a star next to the best one; this one will be your Paraphrase.
2. Paraphrase Sentence variations: Write four variations of the Chreia. Then draw a star next to the best one; this one will be your Paraphrase.
I quake for my nation when I remember that the Lord is
righteous.
To contemplate the Almighty’s justice makes me shudder
for this republic.
When I dwell upon God’s impartiality, I quaver for my
people.
I am struck with fear for this nation as I consider that our
Creator passionately hates sin.
3. CauseNine Narrative Components: Identify the who, what, when, where, how, and why of a narrative that shows why the chreia was said. Include recognition, reversal, and suffering.
Agents
Action
Time
Place
Manner
Cause
Recognition
Reversal
Suffering
3. CauseNine Narrative Components: Identify the who, what, when, where, how, and why of a narrative that shows why the chreia was said. Include recognition, reversal, and suffering.
Recognition
Reversal
Suffering
Agents
Action
Time
Place
Manner
Cause
God punishes unrighteous nations
the man fears God’s punishment on his nation
God’s punishment
a man
reflecting on & obeying God’s commands
unrighteousness will be punished
time of our nation’s birth
United States, our nation
with humility
to experience God’s blessings in life
3. CauseRough Draft: Compose a paragraph using the nine narrative components. Include a figure of description. Identify recognition (R), suffering (S), and reversal (V).
3. CauseRough Draft: Compose a paragraph using the nine narrative components. Include a figure of description. Identify recognition (R), suffering (S), and reversal (V).
A humble man (ethopoeia), living at the
time of our nation’s birth, would have enjoyed
the success of his country. Knowing, however,
that God punishes (S) unrighteous nations (R),
he would have feared for his people (V) and
called them to righteousness.
4. ConverseNine Narrative Components: Identify the nine components of a narrative with the same character in the cause paragraph but who does the opposite.
Recognition
Reversal
Suffering
Agents
Action
Time
Place
Manner
Cause
God punishes unrighteous nations repentance comes too lateGod punishes a mandisobeying God’s commandstime of our nation’s birthUnited States, our nationwith pride and selfishnessto show that overlooking unrighteousnessGod will not be mocked
4. ConverseNine Narrative Components: Identify the nine components of a narrative with the same character in the cause paragraph but who does the opposite.
Agents
Action
Time
Place
Manner
Cause
Recognition
Reversal
Suffering
4. ConverseRough Draft: Compose a paragraph using the nine narrative components. Include a figure of description. Identify recognition (R), suffering (S), and reversal (V).
4. ConverseRough Draft: Compose a paragraph using the nine narrative components. Include a figure of description. Identify recognition (R), suffering (S), and reversal (V).
However, if a man had ignored the Judge of nations, then destruction may befall such a man and his country at any moment (S and V). A nation cannot long survive if the people of that nation act viciously (C).
5. AnalogyDiagram: Write the Action of the chreia on the left side and its effect below. Then write a dissimilar Action that has the same effect.
Chriea’s Action Dissimilar Action
Same Effect
5. AnalogyDiagram: Write the Action of the chreia on the left side and its effect below. Then write a dissimilar Action that has the same effect.
Chriea’s Action Dissimilar Action
Ignoring God’s justice e.g. Gambling unresponsibly
Same Effect
Both are ruined; one meets poverty and the other meets
demise
5. AnalogyNine Narrative Components: Identify the nine components of a narrative that demonstrates the analogy from the diagram.
Agents
Action
Time
Place
Manner
Cause
Recognition
Reversal
Suffering
5. AnalogyNine Narrative Components: Identify the nine components of a narrative that demonstrates the analogy from the diagram.
Recognition
Reversal
Suffering
Agents
Action
Time
Place
Manner
Cause
finds his pockets emptied
meet poverty / meet demise
poverty / demise
gambling fool / nations
gambles money away / ignores God’s justice
anytime
anywhere
irresponsibly
to show the inevitable consequences of
irresponsible behavoir
5. Analogy Rough Draft: Compose a paragraph using the nine narrative components. Include a figure of description. Identify recognition (R), suffering (S), and reversal (V).
5. Analogy Rough Draft: Compose a paragraph using the nine narrative components. Include a figure of description. Identify recognition (R), suffering (S), and reversal (V).
Like a gambling fool, who irresponsibly
gambles all his money, so is a nation that
ignores God’s justice. The fool will find his
pockets emptied. He will meet poverty just as
the unrighteous nation will meet its demise.
6. ExampleNine Narrative Components: Identify the nine components of a narrative that demonstrates the chreia with a famous person or event.
Agents
Action
Time
Place
Manner
Cause
Recognition
Reversal
Suffering
6. ExampleNine Narrative Components: Identify the nine components of a narrative that demonstrates the chreia with a famous person or event.
Agents
Action
Time
Place
Manner
Cause
Recognition
Reversal
Suffering
6. ExampleNine Narrative Components: Identify the nine components of a narrative that demonstrates the chreia with a famous person or event.
Agents God and IsraelAction God blessed Israel, they disobeyed,
were exiledTime Israel’s beginning until the Babylonian
captivityPlace Israel / land flowing with milk and honeyManner sinfully and foolishlyCause to show that God blesses, but he will
punish wrongRecognition Israel was unjust to the poorReversal The Lord exiled Israel to BabylonSuffering Israel lost its freedom
6. ExampleRough Draft: Compose a paragraph using the nine narrative components. Include a figure of description. Identify recognition (R), suffering (S), and reversal (V).
6. ExampleRough Draft: Compose a paragraph using the nine narrative components. Include a figure of description. Identify recognition (R), suffering (S), and reversal (V).
Consider Israel’s history. From the
beginning God had blessed them with a land
flowing with milk and honey. Yet because they
disobeyed him and were unjust to the poor,
the Lord delivered them into the hands of the
Babylonians, and they lost their freedom as a
nation.
7. TestimonyQuotation and Source. Choose a quotation that supports the chreia and write it below. Tell the source of the quotation. Write a sentence that explains how the quote is similar to the chreia.
7. TestimonyQuotation and Source. Choose a quotation that supports the chreia and write it below. Tell the source of the quotation. Write a sentence that explains how the quote is similar to the chreia.
King Solomon once said, “Wicked
men are overthrown and are no more, but
the house of the righteous stands
firm”(Proverbs 12.7). Solomon’s words
mean that a ruler must obey God’s statutes
and rule justly or else be met with swift
destruction.
8. Epilogue Audience and Challenge. Write a phrase that names the audience, and then add an imperative clause calling the audience to agree with the chreia.
8. Epilogue Audience and Challenge. Write a phrase that names the audience, and then add an imperative clause calling the audience to agree with the chreia.
Those who consider these points must
admire Jefferson for his outstandingly wise
saying about the necessity for a nation to obey
God’s law.
Final Draft Check each of the eight heads above and correct errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation. On a separate sheet of paper rewrite the eight paragraphs in the form of a final draft.
Top Related