Halleck's New English Literature Part 39

Dryden's _Essays on the Drama_, edited by Strunk.

Fowler's _Life of Locke_. (E.M.L.)

Stephen's _History of Thought in the Eighteenth Century_.

Dennis's _The Age of Pope_.

Thackeray's _English Humorists_ (Swift, Addison, Steele, Pope).

Stephen's _Life of Swift_. (E.M.L.)

Craik's _Life of Swift_.

Courthope's _Life of Addison_. (E.M.L.)

Macaulay's _Essay on Addison_.

Stephen's _Life of Pope_. (E.M.L.)

De Quincey's _Essay on Pope_, and _On the Poetry of Pope_.

Johnson's _Lives of the Poets_ (Dryden, Pope, Addison).

Lowell's _My Study Windows_ (Pope).

SUGGESTED READINGS WITH QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Dryden.--From his lyrical verse, read _Alexander's Feast_ or _A Song for St. Cecilia's Day_. The opening lines of _Religio Laici_ or of _The Hind and the Panther_ will serve as a specimen of his argumentative or didactic verse and _Absalom and Achitophel_ for his satire. (Ca.s.sell's _National Library_, 15 cents.)

Selections are given in Ward,[4] II., 454-483; Bronson, III., 20-58; Manly, I., 203-209; _Oxford Treasury_, III., 99-110; _Century_, 266-285.

For his critical prose, read _An Essay of Dramatic Poesy_ (Strunk's edition of _Dryden's Essays on the Drama_). For selections see Craik, III., 148-154; Manly, II., 146-163; _Century_, 276-285.

What is the chief subject matter of Dryden's verse? Point out typical qualities in his argumentative and satiric verse. Give definite instances of his power in argument and satire.

Why is his prose called modern? Point out some of its qualities.

Defoe.--Read or reread _Robinson Crusoe_ and point out where he specially shows the skill of the journalist in the presentation of his facts. Can you select pa.s.sages that show the justice of the criticism?

How would the interest in the story have been affected, had Defoe, like the author of _Swiss Family Robinson_, caused the s.h.i.+pwreck to occur on an island where tropical fruits would have rendered unnecessary Crusoe's labor to secure food?

Swift.--Caik's _English Prose Selections_, Vol. III., pp. 391-424, contains representative selections from Swift's prose. The best of these are _The Philosophy of Clothes_, from _A Tale of a Tub_ (Craik, III., 398); _A Digression concerning Critics_, from the same (Craik, III., 400); _The Emperor of Lilliput_ (Craik, III., 417) and _The King of Brobdingnag_ (Craik, III., 419), from _Gulliver's Travels_.

Selections may be found also in Manly, II., 184-198; _Oxford Treasury_, III., 125-129; _Century_, 299-323.

Is Swift's a good prose style? Does he use ornament? Can you find a pa.s.sage where he strives after effect? In what respects do the subjects which he chooses and his manner of treating them show the spirit of the age? Why is _Gulliver's Travels_ so popular? What are the most important lessons which a young writer may learn from Swift?

In what is he specially lacking?

Addison and Steele.--From the _Sir Roger de Coverley Papers_ the student should not fail to read _Spectator No. 112, A Country Sunday_.

He may then read _Spectator No. 2_, by Steele, which sketches the De Coverley characters, and compare the style and characteristics of the two authors. The student who has the time at this point should read all the _De Coverley Papers_ (_Eclectic English Cla.s.sics_, American Book Company).

Good selections from both Addison and Steele may be found in Craik, III., 469-535; Manly, II., 198-216; _Century_, 324-349.

In what did Addison and Steele excel? What qualities draw so many readers to the _De Coverley Papers_? Why may they be called a prelude to the modern novel?

Select pa.s.sages which will serve to bring into sharp contrast the style and humor of Swift and of Addison.

Pope.--Read _The Rape of the Lock_ (printed with the _Essay on Man_ in _Eclectic English Cla.s.sics_, American Book Company, 20 cents).

Selections from this are given in Ward, III., 73-82. The _Essay on Man_, Book I. (Ward, III., 85-91), will serve as a specimen of his didactic verse. The _Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot_ (Ward, III., 103-105) will ill.u.s.trate his satire, and the lines from the _Iliad_ in Ward, III., 82, will show the characteristics of his translation.

_The Rape of the Lock_ and full selections are given in Bronson, III., 89-144; _Century_, 350-368; Manly, I., 228-253.

How does Pope show the spirit of the cla.s.sical school? What are his special merits and defects? Does an examination of his poetry convince you that Leslie Stephen's criticism is right? Select lines from six great poets of different periods. Place beside these selections some of Pope's best lines, and see if you have a clearer idea of the difference between rhetoric and true poetry.

FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER VI:

[Footnote 1: _Essay on Criticism_, lines 297, 298.]

[Footnote 2: For a list of the chief dramatists of the Restoration and their best work, see p. 626.]

[Footnote 3: For full t.i.tles, see p. 50.]

[Footnote 4: For full t.i.tles, see p. 6.]

CHAPTER VII: THE SECOND FORTY YEARS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, 1740-1780

The Colonial Expansion of England.--The most important movements in English history during the second forty years of the eighteenth century are connected with colonial expansion. In 1739 friction between England and Spain over colonial trade forced Robert Walpole, the prime minister, into a war which was not successfully prosecuted, and which compelled him to resign in 1742. The humorous statement that he "abdicated," contains a large element of truth, for he had been a much more important ruler than the king. The contest with Spain was merged in the unprofitable war of the Austrian Succession (1740-1778), in which England partic.i.p.ated.

The successors of Walpole were weak and inefficient; but in 1757 William Pitt, the Elder (1708-1778), although merely secretary of state, obtained the ascendancy in the government. Walpole had tried in vain to bribe Pitt, who was in politics the counterpart of Wesley in religious life. Pitt appealed to the patriotism and to the sense of honor of his countrymen, and his appeal was heard. His enthusiasm and integrity, coupled with good judgment of men, enabled him to lead England to become the foremost power of the world.

France had managed her colonial affairs in America and in India so well that it seemed as if she might in both places displace England.

Pitt, however, selected good leaders and planned a comprehensive method of warfare against France, both in Europe and in the colonies.

Between 1750 and 1760 Clive was making Great Britain mistress of the vast empire of India. The French and Indian War (1754-1760) in America resulted in favor of England. In 1759 Wolfe shattered the power of France in Canada, which has since remained an English colony. England was expanding to the eastward and the westward and taking her literature with her. As Wolfe advanced on Quebec, he was reading Gray's _Elegy_.

At the beginning of this century England owned one half of the island of Great Britain and a few colonial settlements. Not until 1707 were England and Scotland united. In 1763 England had vast dominions in North America and India. She had become the greatest colonial power in the world.

The New Religious Influence.--England could not have taken such a commanding position unless the patriotism and morals of her citizens had improved since the beginning of the century. The church had become too lukewarm and respectable to bring in the ma.s.ses, who saw more to attract them in taverns and places of public amus.e.m.e.nt.

When religious influence was at the lowest ebb, two eloquent preachers, John Wesley and George Whitefield, started a movement which is still gathering force. Wesley did not ask his audience to listen to a sermon on the favorite bloodless abstractions of the eighteenth-century pulpit, such as Charity, Faith, Duty, Holiness, --abstractions which never moved a human being an inch heavenward. His sermons were emotional. They dealt largely with the emotion of love,--G.o.d's love for man.

He did not ask his listeners to engage in intellectual disquisitions about the aspects of infinity: He did not preach free-will metaphysics or trouble his hearers with a satisfactory philosophical account of the origin of evil. He spoke about things that reached not only the understanding but also the feelings of plain men.

About the same time, Whitefield was preaching to the miners near Bristol. As he eloquently told them the story of salvation he brought tears to the eyes of these rude men and made many resolve to lead better lives.

This religious awakening may have been accompanied with too much appeal to the feelings and unhealthy emotional excitement; but some vigorous movement was absolutely necessary to quicken the spiritual life of a decadent age.

The American Revolution.--The second forty years of the eighteenth century witnessed another movement of great importance to the world,--the revolt of the American colonies (1775). When George III.

(1760-1820) came to the throne, he determined to be the real ruler of his kingdom,--to combine in himself the offices of king, prime minister, and cabinet. He undertook to coerce public opinion at home and abroad. He repeatedly offended the American colonies by attempts to tax them and to regulate their trade. They rebelled in 1775 and signed their Declaration of Independence in 1776. Under the leaders.h.i.+p of George Was.h.i.+ngton, and with the help of France, they achieved their independence. The battle of Yorktown (1781), won by Was.h.i.+ngton and the French navy, was the last important battle of the American Revolution.

In spite of her great loss, England still retained Canada and her West India possessions and remained the first colonial power.