olls; and in 1854 another collection of Gray's letters was published, edited by Mitford. Consult the "Eton" and "Aldine" editions; Matthias' Observations on the Writings and Character of Gray; Life by Dr. Johnson; Carruthers, Mason, and others; and Howitt's Homes and Haunts of the British Poets.

In connection with the study of Gray and his contemporaries, the advanced student may find valuable information in Southey's Life of Cowper; Lectures by Hazlitt and Henry Reed; Drake's Literary Hours; Chambers' Book of Days, Vol. II.; Lesson from Gray's Elegy (Saturday Review), June, 1875; North American Review, Vol. XCVI.; Quarterly Review, January, 1876 (also found in Rolfe's edition); Lord Mahon's account of General Wolfe's tribute to Gray in his History of England; Gray's letter to Hurd on the reception of his Odes, and Review of the Odes by Goldsmith (London Monthly Review, September, 1757).

III.-Selections for Study.

Begin always with the Elegy, and for elementary work, this is sufficient for Gray. For advanced work, study On a Distant Prospect of Eton College, Progress of Poesy, Bard, and other poems, with selections from his Letters, as the time may allow.

IV.-Questions on Life and Writings.

When and where was Gray born? Where educated? With what famous man did he travel? His love for his mother? What profession did he intend to follow? What changed his mind? What can you say of his travels? What studies did he pursue? Where did he mainly reside? What was his position at Cambridge? How did he pass his time while at the university? Did he write much? Were all his writings carefully elaborated? What proof of this? What is his most

famous poem? How many odes did he write? Mention their titles. Are these well known and popular? Why not? Two lines from one of them are household words: what are they? On what model were his odes constructed? What other famous odes can you remember? What can you say of his letters? Why are they so well known? What other poets have written famous letters? With what great poet is Gray compared on account of his vast learning? What differences between these two men, as men and writers? What idea have you of Gray's personal appearance? What does Carruthers say? What illustrations of his timidity, — personal peculiarities, fastidiousness? When did he die? Where was he buried? What have you read about the village? In 1778 a monument was erected to him in Westminster Abbey: are you familiar with its inscription?

--

V.-Questions on the Text of the "Elegy."

"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,

The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea,
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.'

About what time was the Elegy begun, and when finished ? Were some stanzas suppressed by the author? how many? Where was this churchyard located? any dispute about this point? Did the poem become popular at once? has it so remained? What is the best proof you can give of its popularity? Is the original MSS. in existence? [See Rolfe, p. 78.] At what price has it recently been sold? How many of the phrases and lines of the poem have become household words? What would you call the most familiar quotation? What is the leading thought or idea running through the whole? Did Gray really ever take twilight walks in a churchyard? In what other poems does he refer to himself? The last three stanzas are called the epitaph: did the writers of this time devote much labor to elaborate epitaphs? What other epitaphs by famous men can you recall ?

* * *

Curfew, derivation of the word? history of the word ? [Hales, p. 327; Tempest, Act V., Scene 1, etc.] What various explanations of this word? What was the curfew bell? Has this custom been continued in England? Have we a similar

custom in our country? A famous author has criticised these lines, by saying that the herds and ploughmen must have been several hours behind their usual time for coming home, if the curfew was ringing: what reply do you make to this criticism? Tolls; what is the meaning here? force of this particular word ? Why not use rings instead of tolls? What is the effect of specific words, so common in great writers ? Illustrate this by some familiar quotation. Meaning of knell? why this specific word? The verse as a whole, explain its meaning. Force of lowing? Is herd singular or plural? But the word wind is written both with and without the s; which is correct? how did Gray write it? [Rolfe, p. 83.] why the specific word wind? why slowly? O'er is poetical for what? why contracted, and by what authority? lea, used in poetry, prose, or both? give synonym. Why is ploughman used? what synonym can you suggest? force of ploughs? suggest a synonym? This verse is remarkable for the number of transpositions which it will allow and still keep the idea; will you give orally all you can? subject of leaves? meaning of world? what figure used? author refer to himself, by me? * *

VI.-Review Analysis.

I. Life.

THOMAS GRAY.

II. Sources of
Information.

III. Writings.

1. Personal career.

2. Literary works.

Does the

3. Famous contemporaries.

4. Character and style.

5. Personal peculiarities.

Mason; Matthias; Nicholls;
Mitford; Letters.

Poems; Odes; Letters.

IV. Criticism of Style, and Illustration.

V. Quotations.

VII.-Selections to Commit to Memory.

The student is advised to commit to memory only the choicest selections, very rarely all of a poem. The Elegy is, however, an exception, and should be

thoroughly committed during a term's study, and carefully reviewed, together with all other selections chosen for this purpose. If time does not allow, the following stanzas are the best to select: I.; VIII.; IX.; XI.; XIII.; XIV.; XIX.; XXII.; Epitaph.

Ode to Eton College; line 91:

66

Yet, ah! why should they know their fate," etc.

Bard; line 71:

"Fair laughs the morn," etc.

Mason's Epitaph:

"No more the Grecian muse," etc.

CHAPTER VII.

WASHINGTON IRVING. 1783-1859.

"I have glanced over the Sketch-Book. It is positively beautiful."-Sir Walter Scott.

"If he wishes to study a style which possesses the characteristic beauties of Addison's, its ease, simplicity, and elegance, with greater accuracy, point, and spirit, let him give his days and nights to the volumes of Irving."-Edward Everett's Advice to a Student.

"I know of no books which are oftener lent than those that bear the pseudonym of 'Geoffrey Crayon.' Few, very few, can show a long succession so pure, so graceful, and so varied, as Mr. Irving.”—Mary Russell Mitford.

"Amiableness is so strongly marked in all Irving's writings as never to let you forget the man; and the pleasure is doubled in the same manner as it is in lively conversation with one for whom you have a deep attachment and esteem." - R. H. Dana, Sr.

"Rich and original humor, great refinement of feeling and delicacy of sentiment. Style accurately finished, easy, and transparent. Accurate observer: his descriptions are correct, animated and beautiful."-George S. Hillard.

I.-Editions and References.

The most convenient and cheapest edition of Irving's works is the "People's Edition," which is sold for $1.00 a volume. The Sketch Book in this edition is extensively used as a text-book in our large schools. The "Crayon Reader," including miscellaneous extracts from his writings, is especially adapted to school purposes. The complete text of Rip Van Winkle can be found in Hunt's English Literature, and Underwood's American Literature has several excellent selections. It is needless to say that most of the reading-books have more or less selections from Irving.

For full particulars concerning Irving's personal and literary career, the student is referred to Curtis's Homes of American Authors, Griswold's Prose Writers of America, Duyckinck's American Literature, Tuckerman's Sketch, and Bryant's Oration, delivered a few years ago, and since republished in a volume of essays. The following volumes of Harpers' contain references to Irving: II.; XIV.; XX.; XXI.; XXIV. See the Atlantic Monthly, Vols. VI. and XIII. An exhaustive biography of Irving has been written by his nephew, Pierre Irving.

NOTE. - Royse's Manual of American Literature has eighteen pages devoted to selections and references pertaining to Irving; thirty-five to Whittier; twenty to Longfellow; twenty-five to Bryant; and twenty each to Hawthorne, Holmes, and Cooper.

II.-Principal Writings.

Salmagundi; Sketch-Book; History of New York, by Diedrich Knickerbocker; Bracebridge Hall; Tales of a Traveller;