Halleck's New English Literature Part 55

Minto's _Manual of English Prose Literature_ (De Quincey).

SUGGESTED READINGS WITH QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Blake.--Some of his best poems are given in Ward, IV., 601-608; Bronson, III., 385-403; Manly, I., 301-304; _Oxford_, 558-566; _Century_, 485-489, and in the volume in _The Canterbury Poets_.

Point out in Blake's verse (_a_) the new feeling for nature, (_b_) evidences of wide sympathies, (_c_) mystical tendencies, and (_d_) compare his verses relating to children and nature with Wordsworth's poems on the same subjects.

Cowper.--Read the opening stanzas of Cowper's _Conversation_ and note the strong influence of Pope in the cleverly turned but artificial couplets. Compare this poem with the one _On the Receipt of my Mother's Picture_ or with _The Task_, Book IV., lines 1-41 and 267-332, Ca.s.sell's _National Library, Canterbury Poets_, or _Temple Cla.s.sics_ and point out the marked differences in subject matter and style. What forward movement in literature is indicated by the change in Cowper's manner? _John Gilpin_ should be read for its fresh, beguiling humor.

For selections, see Bronson,[28] III., 310-329; Ward, III., 422-485; _Century_, 470-479; Manly, I., 285-294.

Burns.--Read _The Cotter's Sat.u.r.day Night, For a' That and a' That, To a Mouse, Highland Mary, To Mary in Heaven, Farewell to Nancy, I Love My Jean, A Red, Red Rose_. The teacher should read to the cla.s.s parts of _Tam o' Shanter_.

The _Globe_ edition contains the complete poems of Burns with Glossary. Inexpensive editions may be found in Ca.s.sell's _National Library, Everyman's Library_, and _Canterbury Poets_. For selections, see Bronson, III., 338-385; Ward. III., 512-571; _Century_, 490-502; Manly, I., 309-326; _Oxford_, 492-506.

In what ways do the first three poems mentioned above show Burns's sympathy with democracy? Quote some of Burns's fine descriptions of nature and describe the manner in which he treats nature. How does he rank as a writer of love songs? What qualities in his poems have touched so many hearts? Compare his poetry with that of Dryden, Pope, and Shakespeare.

Scott.--Read _The Lady of the Lake_, Canto III., stanzas iii.-xxv., or _Marmion_, Canto VI., stanzas xiii.-xxvii. (American Book Company's _Eclectic English Cla.s.sics_, Ca.s.sell's _National Library_, or _Everyman's Library_.) Read in Craik, V., "The Gypsy's Curse" (_Guy Mannering_), pp. 14-17, "The Death of Madge Wildfire" (_Heart of Middlothian_), pp. 30-35, and "The Grand Master of the Templars"

(_Ivanhoe_), pp. 37-42. The student should put on his list for reading at his leisure: _Guy Mannering, Old Mortality, Ivanhoe, Kenilworth, and The Talisman_.

In what kind of poetry does Scott excel? Quote some of his spirited heroes, and point out their chief excellences. How does his poetry differ from that of Burns? In the history of fiction, does Scott rank as an imitator or a creator? As a writer of fiction, in what do his strength and his weakness consist? Has he those qualities that will cause him to be popular a century hence? What can be said of his style?

Jane Austen.--In Craik, V., or Manly. II, read the selections from _Pride and Prejudice_. The student at his leisure should read all this novel.

What world does she describe in her fiction? What are her chief qualities? How does she differ from Scott? Why is she called a "realist"?

Wordsworth.--Read _I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, The Solitary Reaper, To the Cuckoo, Lines Written in Early Spring, Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower, To my Sister, She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways, She Was a Phantom of Delight, Alice Fell, Lucy Gray, We Are Seven, Intimations of Immortality from Recollection of Early Childhood, Ode to Duty, Hart-Leap Well, Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, Michael_ and the sonnets: "It is a beauteous evening, calm and free," "Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour," and "The world is too much with us, late and soon." Some students will also wish to read _The Prelude_ (_Temple Cla.s.sics_ or A.J. George's edition), which describes the growth of Wordsworth's mind.

All the above poems (excepting _The Prelude_) may be found in the volume _Poems of Wordsworth, chosen and edited by Matthew Arnold_ (_Golden Treasury Series_, 331 pp., $1). Nearly all may also be found in Page's _British Poets of the Nineteenth Century_ (923 pp., $2). For selections, see Bronson, IV., 1-54; Ward, IV., 1-88; _Oxford_ 594-618; _Century_, 503-541; Manly, I., 329-345.

Refer to Wordsworth's "General Characteristics" (pp. 393-396) and select the poems that most emphatically show his special qualities.

Which of the above poems seems easiest to write? In which is his genius most apparent? Which best presents his view of nature? Which best stand the test of an indefinite number of readings? In what do his poems of childhood excel?

Coleridge.--Read _The Ancient Mariner, Christabel, Kubla Khan, Hymn before Sunrise in the Vale of Chamouni, Youth and Age_; Bronson, I., 54-93; Ward, IV., 102-154; Page, 66-103; Century, 553-565; Manly, I., 353-364; _Oxford_, 628-656.

How do _The Ancient Mariner_ and _Christabel_ manifest the spirit of Romanticism? What are the chief reasons for the popularity of _The Ancient Mariner_? Would you call this poem didactic? Select stanzas specially remarkable for melody, for beauty, for telling much in few words, for images of nature, for conveying an ethical lesson. What feeling almost unknown in early poetry is common in Coleridge's _The Ancient Mariner_, Wordsworth's _Hart-Leap Well_, Burns's _To a Mouse, On Seeing a Wounded Hare Limp by Me, A Winter Night_, and Cowper's _On a Goldfinch Starved to Death in his Cage_?

The advanced student should read some of Coleridge's prose criticism in his _Biographia Literaria_ (_Everyman's Library_). The parts best worth reading have been selected in George's _Coleridge's Principles of Criticism_ (226 pp., 60 cents) and in Beers's _Selections for the Prose Writings of Coleridge_ (including criticisms of Wordsworth and Shakespeare, 146 pp., 50 cents).

Note how fully Coleridge unfolds in these essays the principles of romantic criticism, which have not been superseded.

Byron.--Read _The Prisoner of Chillon_ (_Selections from Byron, Eclectic English Cla.s.sics_), _Childe Harold_, Canto III., stanzas xxi-xxv. and cxiii., Canto IV., stanzas lxxviii., and lxxix. "Oh, s.n.a.t.c.h'd away in Beauty's Bloom," "There's not a joy the world can give like that it takes away," and from _Don Juan_, Canto III., the song inserted between stanzas lx.x.xvi. and lx.x.xvii. All these poems will be found in the two volumes of Byron's works in the _Canterbury Poets'_ series.

Selections are given in Bronson, IV., 125-174; Ward, IV., 244-303; Page, 170-272; Oxford, 688-694; _Century_, 586-613; Manly, I., 378-393.

From the stanzas indicated in _Childe Harold_, select, first, the pa.s.sages which best ill.u.s.trate the spirit of revolt, and, second, the pa.s.sages of most poetic beauty. What natural phenomena appeal most to Byron? What qualities make _The Prisoner of Chillon_ a favorite? Why is his poetry often called rhetorical?

Sh.e.l.ley.--Read _Adonais, To a Skylark, Ode to the West Wind, To Night, The Cloud, The Sensitive Plant_, and selections from _Alastor_ and _Prometheus Unbound_. Sh.e.l.ley's _Poetical Works_, edited by Edward Dowden (_Globe Poets_), contains all of Sh.e.l.ley's extant poetry. Less expensive editions are in _Canterbury Poets, Temple Cla.s.sics_, and _Everyman's Library_. Selections are given in Bronson, IV., 182-227; Ward, IV., 348-416; Page, 275-369; _Oxford_, 697-717; _Century_, 614-638; Manly, I., 394-411.

Under what different aspects do _Adonais_ and _Lycidas_ view the life after death? Has Sh.e.l.ley modified Wordsworth's view of the spiritual force in nature? Does Sh.e.l.ley use either the cloud or the skylark for the direct purpose of expressing his own feelings? Why is he sometimes called a metaphysical poet? What is the most striking quality of Sh.e.l.ley's poetic gift?

Keats.--Read _The Eve of St. Agnes_, _Ode to a Nightingale_, _Ode on a Grecian Urn_, _To Autumn_, _Hyperion_ (first 134 lines), _La Belle Dame sans Merci_, _Isabella_, and the sonnets: _On First Looking into Chapman's Homer_, _On the Gra.s.shopper and Cricket_, _When I have Fears that I May Cease to Be_, _Bright Star! Would I Were Steadfast as Thou Art_. The best edition of the works of Keats is that by Buxton Forman.

The _Canterbury Poets_ and _Everyman's Library_ have less expensive editions. All the poems indicated above may be found in Page's _British Poets of the Nineteenth Century_. For selections, see Bronson, IV., 230-265; Ward, IV., 427-464; _Oxford_, 721-744; _Century_, 639-655; Manly, I., 413-425.

By direct reference to the above poems, justify calling Keats "the apostle of the beautiful," in both thought and language. Give examples of his felicitous use of words and phrases. Show by ill.u.s.trations his mastery in the use of the concrete. To what special senses do his images appeal? Was he at all affected by the new human movement? Why does Arnold say, "Keats is with Shakespeare"? In what respects is he like the Elizabethans?

De Quincey.--Read _Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow_ (Craik, V., 264-270). The first chapters of _The Confessions of an English Opium-Eater_ (_Everyman's Library_; _Temple Cla.s.sics_; _Century_, 683-690; Manly, II., 357-366) are entertaining and will repay reading.

Does his prose show any influence of a romantic and poetic age?

Compare his style with that of Addison, Gibbon, and Burke. In what respects does De Quincey succeed, and in what does he fail, as a model for a young writer?

Lamb.--From the _Essays of Elia_ (Ca.s.sell's _National Library_; _Everyman's Library_, _Temple Cla.s.sics_) read any two of these essays: _A Dissertation upon Roast Pig, Old China, Dream Children, New Year's Eve, Poor Relations_. For selections, see Craik, V., 116-126; _Century_, 575-578; Manly, II., 337-345.

In what does Lamb's chief charm consist? Point out resemblances and differences between his _Essays_ and Addison's.

Landor, Hazlitt, and Hunt.--Good selections are given in Craik, V.; Chambers, III.; Manly, II. Inexpensive editions of Landor's _Imaginary Conversations_ and _Pericles and Aspasia_ may be found in the _Camelot Series_. Hazlitt's _Characters of Shakespeare's Plays, Lectures on the English Poets, Lectures on the English Comic Writers_, and _Table Talk_ are published in _Everyman's Library_. The _Camelot Series_ and the _Temple Cla.s.sics_ also contain some of Hazlitt's works. A selection from Leigh Hunt's _Essays_ is published in the _Camelot Series_.

What are the main characteristics of Landor's style? Select a pa.s.sage which justifies the criticism: "He writes in marble." Give some striking thoughts from his _Imaginary Conversations_. Compare his style and subject matter with Hazlitt's. Show that Hazlitt has the power of presenting in an impressive way the chief characteristics of authors. Select some pleasing pa.s.sages from Leigh Hunt's _Essays_.

Compare him with Addison and Lamb.

FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER VIII:

[Footnote 1: _Prelude_, Book XI.]

[Footnote 2: gold.]

[Footnote 3: _For a' That and a' That_.]

[Footnote 4: _Song at the Feast of Brougham Castle_.]

[Footnote 5: _Hart-Leap Well_.]

[Footnote 6: _Intimations of Immortality_.]

[Footnote 7: Wordsworth's _Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey_.]

[Footnote 8: _Retirement_.]

[Footnote 9: _Conversation_.]

[Footnote 10: _I Love My Jean_.]

[Footnote 11: remedy.]

[Footnote 12: _Epistle to John Lapraik_.]

[Footnote 13: _The Vision_.]