A History of English Literature

THOMSON'S SEASONS. Astor ed., Crowell, 60 cents.
MACAULAY'S ESSAYS. Everyman, three vols. Vol. I has the essays on Clive and
Hastings.
CARLYLE'S SARTOR RESARTUS. Everyman.
RUSKIN. Selections, ed. Tinker, R. L. S., 50 cents.
ARNOLD'S CULTURE AND ANARCHY. Nelson and Sons, 25 cents.
NINETEENTH CENTURY NOVELS. Largely included in Everyman.
ASSIGNMENTS FOR STUDY
These assignments must of course be freely modified in accordance with
actual needs. The discussions of the authors' works should sometimes, at
least, be made by the student in writing, sometimes after a day or two of
preliminary oral discussion in class. In addition to the special questions
here included, the treatment of the various authors in the text often
suggests topics for further consideration; and of course the material of
the preliminary chapter is assumed. Any discussion submitted, either orally
or in writing, may consist of a rather general treatment, dealing briefly
with several topics; or it may be a fuller treatment of a single topic.
Students should always express their own actual opinions, using the
judgments of others, recorded in this book or elsewhere, as helps, not as
final statements. Students should also aim always to be definite, terse,
and clear. Do not make such vague general statements as 'He has good choice
of words,' but cite a list of characteristic words or skilful expressions.
As often as possible support your conclusions by quotations from, the
author or by page-number references to relevant passages.
THE ASSIGNMENTS
1. Above, Chapter I. One day.
2. 'BEOWULF.' Two days. For the first day review the discussion of the poem
above, pp. 33-36; study the additional introductory statement which here
follows; and read in the poem as much as time allows. For the second day
continue the reading, at least through the story of Beowulf's exploits in
Hrothgar's country (in Hall's translation through page 75, in Child's
through page 60), and write your discussion. Better read one day in a prose
translation, the other in a metrical translation, which will give some idea
of the effect of the original.
The historical element in the poem above referred to is this: In several
places mention is made of the fact that Hygelac, Beowulf's king, was killed
in an expedition in Frisia (Holland), and medieval Latin chronicles make
mention of the death of a king 'Chocilaicus' (evidently the same person) in
a piratical raid in 512 A. D. The poem states that Beowulf escaped from
this defeat by swimming, and it is quite possible that he was a real
warrior who thus distinguished himself.
The other facts at the basis of the poem are equally uncertain. In spite of