PARAGRAPHS 31-33. Analyze this group of paragraphs on Rasselas. Make a topic sentence for each paragraph, and explain the methods of development.

PARAGRAPH 36. Comment on the beginning and the end. How are the parts of the paragraph balanced? The incident of the Cock Lane Ghost is admirably condensed and subordinated to the purpose of the paragraph.

PARAGRAPH 39. What characteristics of Macaulay are here illustrated?

PARAGRAPH 40. Criticise this paragraph. Is it too long? Has it unity? If it were divided, where should the division be made?

PARAGRAPH 50. An example of a brilliant narrative passage skillfully subordinated to the purpose of the paragraph.

TOPICS FOR ESSAYS AND REPORTS

1. Conditions of Authorship in Johnson's Time.

2. Grub Street.

3. Johnson's Style as a Writer and as a Conversationalist.

4. The Origin, Nature, and Membership of the Literary Club. 5. A Comparison of Macaulay's Estimate of Boswell with Carlyle's Estimate.

6. Macaulay's Exaggerations.

7. The Principal Characteristics of Macaulay's Style.

8. Johnson's Peculiarities.

9. Johnson and Garrick.

10. Johnson and his Wife.

THE ESSAY ON BURNS

Carlyle had very clear ideas of what a biography ought to be. His idea was not to present objectively the events of a man's life against the background of his age, nor yet to give a "detached catalogue of his several supposed attributes, virtues, and vices." A good biography penetrates

to the "inward springs and relations of character." At the same time, it presents not a mere catalogue of virtues and vices, but a living, acting person. The virtues and vices must be so related, and their united significance so explained, as to reveal the real person to whom they belong as a unique individual, living the common life, struggling with his surroundings, influenced by his circumstances, and, in turn, molding his circumstances to definite ends. The main purpose of reading Carlyle's essay, therefore, is to realize Burns. "Never," says Phillips Brooks, "lay down a biography until the man is a living, breathing, acting person. Then you may close and lose and forget the book; the man is yours forever."

In the study of The Essay on Burns, however, it is not enough to realize the personality of Burns only. A study should be made of Carlyle also; of his character and of the literary style which was the result of his character. The essay shows Carlyle's sincerity, his vigor of mind, his hatred of affectation, his sturdy common sense, his manly religiona religion not of sentiment merely, but also of good works. And these qualities express themselves in a vigorous graphic style; not grotesque and eccentric as in Carlyle's later work, but often abrupt and startling; sometimes without the graces of style, but never without dynamic qualities. His style, like his character, is sincere, robust, direct, manly.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FIRST READING

PARAGRAPHS 1-5. Introduction. Carlyle's idea of what a biography ought to be gives the key to his criticism of earlier biographies of Burns and furnishes a test by which to judge Carlyle's own work. Why does he think it well to have many biographies of great men?

PARAGRAPHS 6-9. A general sketch of Burns. The con

tention that the educated man has great advantages as a poet over the uneducated man should be compared with Macaulay's statement of the contrary in his Essay on Milton (paragraphs 10-18). Determine whether you agree with Macaulay or with Carlyle.

Carlyle says, "Criticism, it is sometimes thought, should be a cold business; we are not so sure of this." Explain your idea of criticism. Is Carlyle a cold critic? Cite passages to support your answer. Does Carlyle overexalt the worth of poets? Is it worthier to be a poet than to be a "captain of industry"?

Carlyle is interested in Burns "not chiefly as a poet, but as a man." This is the keynote of the essay. Read To a Mountain Daisy, To a Mouse, and Winter, and observe whether the poems illustrate Carlyle's point.

PARAGRAPHS 10-38. Estimate of Burns as α poet. Carlyle's method in this division is to give a general estimate of Burns's poetry, and then to enumerate particular characteristics.

(1) Sincerity. Be sure to get Carlyle's full meaning. What other poets with whom you are familiar are remarkable for sincerity? From this discussion what do we learn of Carlyle's character?

(2) Poetic feeling, which exalts even the commonplace. Explain in your own words what Carlyle means.

(3) Intellectual vigor, expressing itself in keenness of vision and conciseness of language. Study the examples until you see how they explain Carlyle's point. Explain the point of the comparison of Burns with Homer, Defoe, and Richardson.

(4) Fineness of intellect. How does Carlyle make this point clear?

(5) Keenness of feeling. Explain exactly what is meant