"Norman Baron" (Chapter III.) be followed by some half a dozen prose and poetical selections to be studied in the same way. After a systematic method of studying the English texts has been acquired, the "Representative Authors" may be taken up in the order and manner which is suggested in the succeeding chapters. The teacher should depend for texts upon the many cheap paper editions, upon readingbooks, and works from the household, school, or public library. Without much trouble, every member of the class could be supplied with texts for Thanatopsis, Deserted Village, Cotter's Saturday Night, Lady of the Lake, Julius Cæsar, etc. Of course schools in the larger towns and cities, amply provided with libraries and facilities for getting books, would have the advantage over schools in the smaller villages; yet, from our own experience, we are convinced that even in our small towns the teacher, by using a little tact and ingenuity, will be enabled to find all the material which may be necessary to carry out in detail this or a similar plan of study. This method will certainly require much time and patient effort on the part of the teacher, but the satisfactory results obtained will more than repay him for the extra labor. The succeeding pages are the result of several years' experience in teaching English Literature in our public schools. It has been our aim to be concise and practical; to make every point plain, by using a somewhat simple and homely style of writing; in short, to provide a working hand-book which may be of every-day service to the student of literature, and afford him a pleasant and useful guide to more extended studies. Valuable help has been obtained from various sources, and due credit is given in the proper place. PROVINCETOWN, MASS., August, 1878. ALBERT F. BLAISDELL. |