Teachers' Outlines for Studies in English Part 24

GROUP II

1 Why does Ida finally consent to marry the Prince?

2 Was the Dumfries aristocracy justified in "cutting" Robert Burns?

3 Show how the _Sir Roger de Coverley Papers_ deal with the foibles of the time of Addison.

4 What does the Spectator mean when he says that Sir Roger is "something of a Humourist"? Define Sir Roger's peculiar humor, and contrast it with that of some other character in the _Sir Roger de Coverley Papers_.

GROUP III

1 What elements in the character of G.o.dfrey Ca.s.s account for his relief at his wife's death and his failure to care for his child; also for his confession to Nancy and resolve to adopt Eppie?

2 Tell the story of the caskets in _The Merchant of Venice_.

3 Which in your opinion is the superior character, Ca.s.sius or Antony? Give the reasons for your opinion.

4 What qualities in the character of Brutus are brought home to us in the last scene of _Julius Caesar?_ Trace in the action of the play the influence of any one of these qualities.

B--Study and Practice

_The candidate is expected to answer four of the questions on this paper, selecting them in accordance with instructions under the headings._

_I Take one part only, either a or b._

_a_ "Sir, let me add, too, that the opinion of my having some abstract right in my favor would not put me _much_ at my ease in _pa.s.sing sentence, unless_ I could be sure that there were no rights which, in their exercise under certain circ.u.mstances, were not the most _odious_ of all wrongs and the most vexatious of all injustice."

(1) Name each clause by giving the grammatical subject, the verb, and the complement (if any). State the kind of clause. Give the reasons for your statements.

(2) Pa.r.s.e the italicized words.

_b_ (1) Comment upon the unity of the following sentence and give the reasons for your opinion.

"_At this moment the clang of the portal was heard, a sound at which the stranger started, stepped hastily to the window, and looked with an air of alarm at Ravenswood, when he saw that the gate of the court was shut, and his domestics excluded._"

(2) In each of the sentences printed below tell whether the use of the italicized expression is right or wrong, and give the reason for your decision.

_p_ The congregation _was_ free to go their way.

_q_ He said that he himself and I _should_ go to-morrow, but that you _would_ not go till next week.

_r_ Seated on an upright tombstone, close to him, was a strange unearthly figure, _whom_, Gabriel felt at once, was no being of this world.

_s_ _After eating a hearty dinner our carriages_ were brought to the door.

_II Take one part only, either a or b._

_a_ "Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together. If we are conscious of our station, and glow with zeal to fill our places as becomes our situation and ourselves, we ought to auspicate all our public proceedings on America with the old warning of the church, _Sursum corda_! We ought to elevate our minds to the greatness of that trust to which the order of Providence has called us."

Write one paragraph or two or more connected paragraphs on the pa.s.sage given above. Let your answer show (1) the division of Burke's speech in which this pa.s.sage occurs, (2) the relation of the idea here expressed to his plan for the government of America, (3) the manner in which his motions carry out this plan.

_b_ "It appears that Addison, on his death bed, called himself to strict account, and was not at ease until he had asked pardon for an injury which it was not even suspected that he had committed,--for an injury which would have caused disquiet only to a very tender conscience. Is it not then reasonable to infer that, if he had really been guilty of forming a base conspiracy against the fame and fortunes of a rival, he would have expressed some remorse at so serious a crime?"

Write one paragraph or two or more connected paragraphs on the pa.s.sage given above. Show clearly to what reference is made in the last sentence.

_III Take one part only, either a or b._

_a_ "Thou hast it now: king, _Cawdor_, _Glamis_, all, As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou _play'dst most foully for't_: yet it was said It should not _stand in thy posterity_, But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them-- As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine-- Why, by the _verities_ on thee made good, May they not be my _oracles_ as well And _set me up in hope_? But hush, no more."

In a paragraph or two show who is the speaker and what the pa.s.sage suggests respecting his character.

Give the meaning of the italicized words and phrases.

_b_ "We wish to add a few words relative to another subject on which the enemies of Milton delight to dwell--his conduct during the administration of the Protector."

In a paragraph or two summarize Macaulay's views on the subject indicated in the pa.s.sage given above.

_IV Take one part only, either a or b._

_a_ "Mortals, that would follow me, Love Virtue; she alone is free.

She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime; Or, if Virtue feeble were, Heaven itself would stoop to her."

By whom were these words said? to whom? when? where? under what circ.u.mstances? Show the relation of these lines to the opening lines of the poem; to the plot of the poem. Answer in a paragraph or two.

_b_ In Macaulay's _Essay on Milton_ occurs the following pa.s.sage:

"In none of the works of Milton is his peculiar manner more happily displayed than in the _Allegro_ and the _Penseroso_.

It is impossible to conceive that the mechanism of language can be brought to a more exquisite degree of perfection.

These poems differ from others as attar of roses differs from ordinary rose-water, the close-packed essence from the thin, diluted mixture. _They are, indeed, not so much poems as collections of hints, from each of which the reader is to make out a poem for himself. Every epithet is a text for a stanza._"

Quote from _L'Allegro_ and _Il Penseroso_ several phrases, lines, or pa.s.sages that exemplify the statements in italics.

Give your reasons for the selection of any one of these.

(1907)

A--Reading and Practice

_Select one subject from each of the following groups, and upon each subject you select write at least two pages._

GROUP I

1 Under what circ.u.mstances did "the vision" come to Sir Launfal?