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89 

7 

5 


OUTLINE  STUDIES 

IN 

COLLEGE    ENGLISH 

MAUD  ELMA  KINGSLEY,  A.M. 


THE  TRAVELLER 

(  Oliver  Goldsmith  ) 


COPYRIGHT,  1911,  BY 

THE    PALMER    COMPANY 
120  BOYLSTON  STREET,  BOSTON.  MASS. 


OUTLINE  STUDIES  IN  LITERATURE 

By  MAUD  ELMA  K1NGSLEY.  A.M. 

COLLEGE  ENGLISH  SERIES: 
Each  Outline  15  cents ;  in  quantities  of  single  titles  for  class  use  at  xo%  off. 

f    SILAS  MARNER George  Eliot 

2  SIR  ROGER  DE  COVERLEY  PAPERS     Joseph  Addison 

3  JULIUS  CAESAR Shakespeare 

4  THE  MERCHANT  OF  VENICE  .        .         Shakespeare 

5  THE  VICAR  OF  WAKEFIELD     .        .  Oliver  Goldsmith 

6  THE  ANCIENT  MARINER         .        .       .       Coleridge 

7  IVANHOE          ,<.<.,  Sir  Walter  Scott 

8  ESSAY  ON  BURNS  .       .            Thomas  Carlyle 

9  THE  PRINCESS Tennyson 

JO  VISION  OF  SIR  LAUNFAL  .       .       .        J.  R  Lowell 

U  MACBETH        *        .       .   •     .        .        .         Shakespeare 

\2  L'ALLEGRO  AND  IL  PENSEROSO     .          John  Milton 

J3    COMUS John  Milton 

U    LYCIDAS John  Milton 

J5  SPEECH  ON  CONCILIATION       .                            Burke 

16    ESSAY  ON  MILTON Macaulay 

YJ    ESSAY  ON  ADDISON M&caalay 

J8    LIFE  OF  JOHNSON Macaulay 

19  LIFE  OF  GOLDSMITH Irving 

20  LADY  OF  THE  LAKE  Scott 

21  IDYLLS  OF  THE  KING          ....      Tennyson 

22  CONNECTING  LINKS  FOR  THE  COLLEGE  ENGLISH 

THE  PALMER  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 
130  BOYLSTOW  ST.,  BOSTON,  MASS. 


LIBRARY 

%     ^^ 

OUTLINE   STUDY 

NO.  7O 

THE  TRAVELLER 
(OLIVER  GOLDSMITH,  1728-1774) 


A.  PREPARATORY  WORK. — Character  of  Goldsmith's  Lit- 
erary Era :  Character  of  THE  TRAVELLER. 

B.  FIRST  READING. — Outline  of  the  Poem:  Study  of  the 
Text. 

C.  SECOND  READING. — The  Execution  of  the  Poem:  Its 

Literary  Merits. 

D.  SUPPLEMENTARY  WORK. — Oliver  Goldsmith:  Theme 
Subjects. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 


A.  PEEPAEATOEY  WOEK. 

* 

CHARACTEROF   GOLDSMITH'S 

LITERARY    ERA:      CHARACTER 

OF   "THE    TRAVELLER." 

ji 
I.     CHARACTER  OF  GOLDSMITH'S  LITERARY  ERA. 

Note  1.  %  That  period  in  the  history  of  English  Literature, 
of  which  Goldsmith  is  one  of  the  representative 
writers,  extends  from  the  year  1750  to  the  year  1800 
and  is  known  as  "The  Age  of  Johnson". 

Among  the  prose  writers,  we  find  Johnson,  Gold- 
smith, and  Burke ;  the  poets  are  represented  by 
Burns,  Goldsmith,  Gray,  and  Cowper. 

In  poetry  the  improvement  of  this  period  over  the 
preceding  (See  Outline  Study  of  Pope's  "Rape  of  the 
Lock")  is  very  marked.  "The  artificialities  of  Pope 
and  his  imitators  were  abandoned,  and  there  was  a 
gradual  return  to  nature  and  the  human  heart  as  the 
true  source  of  poetic  inspiration.  The  improvement 
was  begun  by  Thomson  in  the  preceding  age  and  was 
carried  to  a  glorious  consummation  near  the  close  of 
this  period  by  Burns,  Goldsmith  and  Cowper". 

II.     CHARACTER  OF  "THE  TRAVELLER". 

Note   2.     "THE   TRAVELLER",   a   philosophical   poem   of 
great  literary  merit,  is  constructed  on  a  most  simple/7' 
and  effective  plan: — the  poet,  an  English  wanderer, \ 
seated  on  a  crag  among  Alpine  solitudes,   near  the  \ 
point  where  three  great  countries  meet,  looks  down ) 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER  3 

on  the  kingdoms  spread  out  before  him  and  wonders 
if  there  is  any  spot  wherein  perfect  happiness  reigns, 
where  man  and  nature  are  in  complete  harmony.  Fol- 
lowing out  this  train  of  thought,  he  reviews  his  own 
wanderings,  recalls  the  varieties  of  scenery,  of  cli- 
mate, of  government  he  has  encountered,  the  different 
types  of  character  he  has  seen,  and  comes  to  the  con- 
clusion that  although  the  inhabitants  of  each  nation 
think  their  own  kingdom  the  best,  there  is  really  no 
place  on  earth  where  man  and  nature  are  in  com- 
plete harmony  —  a  necessary  condition  of  absolutely 
perfect  happiness.  He  decides,  too,  that  the  amount 
of  happiness  existing  among  different  nations  varies 
but  little :  each  ill  has  a  compensating  advantage ; 
each  advantage  has  a  balancing  disadvantage.  The 
lesson  taught  by  the  poet's  philosophical  discussion 
and  by  the  facts  advanced  to  illustrate  and  prove  his 
assertions  is  that  one's  happiness  depends  little  upon 
political  institutions  and  much  upon  the  temper  and 
regulation  of  one's  own  mind. 

"THE  TRAVELLER"  was  published  December  19, 
1764,  and  its  appearance  at  once  altered  Goldsmith's 
intellectual  standing  in  the  estimation  of  society, 
placing  him  in  the  first  rank  of  poets  then  living. 
Irving  says  in  his  Life  of  Goldsmith,  "His  associates 
were  lost  in  wonder  and  astonishment  that  a  news- 
paper essayist  and  bookseller's  drudge  should  have 
written  such  a  poem.  They  knew  not  how  to  recon- 
cile Goldsmith's  heedless  garrulity  with  _,the_  serene 
beauty,  the  easy  grace,  the  sound  good  sense  and  the 
occasional  elevation  of  his  poetry.  They  could  scarce- 
ly believe  that  such  magic  numbers  had  flowed  from  a 
man  to  whom  in  general,  says  Johnson,  'it  was  with 
difficulty  they  could  give  a  hearing'  ". 

The  poem  "vibrates  with  personality",  since  its 
chief  source  of  inspiration  was  the  personal  experi- 
ences of  the  author. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 


B.     FIEST  BEADING. 

ji 

OUTLINE  OF  THE  POEM 
STUDY  OF  THE  TEXT 


I.     OUTLINE  or  THE  POEM  AND  STUDY  OF  THE  TEXT. 

1.     Introduction. 

Note  3.  "THE  TRAVELLER"  is  dedicated  to  Goldsmith's 
brother  to  whom  the  first  sketch  was  sent  from  Swit- 
zerland, many  years  before  the  date  of  the  finished 
work. 

a.     The  Solitary  Traveller,  1-10. 

Suggestion  1.  Study  the  picture  of  the  homeless  wander- 
er. Note  the  force  of  the  word  slow  in  line  1.  Study 
that  portion  of  the  poet's  life  which  inspired  these 
lines.  Discuss  line  7,  which  is  an  especially  beauti- 
ful line.  Give  the  full  force  of  the  epithet  untrav- 
elled.  Discuss  the  metaphor  of  line  10.  What  picture 
arises  in  your  mind  as  you  read  this  line?  Find  on 
your  map  the  river  Scheld  (pronounced  Skelt).  the 
river  Po,  and  Carinthia.  Justify  the  epithets  used  in 
this  connection. 

Note  4.  The  picture  of  the  solitary  poet,  presented  by 
line  1,  is  a  most  impressive  one.  The  line  is  a  true 
climax,  as  the  epithet  slow  evidently  means  that 
slowness  of  motion  which  results  from  the  heaviness 
of  heart  implied  in  the  preceding  adjectives. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 


Note  5.  The  first  ten  lines  of  the  poem  justify  its  title. 
The  geographical  names  inserted  with  great  poetic 
art  signify  the  extent  of  the  traveller's  wanderings. 

Note  6.  By  Campania,  Goldsmith  must  mean  the 
Campagnd,  or  plain  of  Rome.  This  low  tract  of  coun- 
try, surrounding  the  city  of  Rome,  is  almost  uninhab- 
itable by  reason  of  the  malarial  fever  which  infests 
it. 

Suggestion  2.  Campania  properly  signifies  what?  Could 
it  be  called  "a  weary  waste"? 

b.  The  Poet's  Eulogy  of  his  Brother,  11-22. 

Suggestion  3.  Note  the  devices  used  to  bring  about  the 
effect  produced  by  these  few  simple  lines: — (1)  The 
contrast  between  lines  1-10  and  lines  11-22;  (2)  The 
ideal  of  hospitality  presented;  (3)  The  beauty  of 
rhythm,  etc.  • 

Suggestion  4.  An  early  review  of  this  portion  of  the 
poem  reads  as  follows :  "The  poet  addresses  his 
.  brother  in  the  opening  lines  of  his  poem  in  as  beau- 
tiful language  as  was  ever  inspired  by  genius  and  af- 
fection combined".  To  what  extent  do  you  agree  with 
the  reviewer  quoted  above? 

c.  The  Homeless  Wanderer  Looks  Down  on  the  Vast 

Expanse  of  Country  Stretching  Before  Him,  23- 
30. 

d.  The  Plan  and  Purpose  of  the  Poem  Announced, 

31-44. 

Suggestion  5.  Paraphrase  lines  33-36 ;  41-44.  Study  Note 
7.  What  modern  English  adjective  expresses  the  idea 
of  thankless  in  line  38? 

e.  The  Poet's  Apostrophe  to  the  Scene  Spread  out 

Before  Him. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLES 


(1).     Climax  of  the  introductory  lines. 

Note  7.  Nothing  could  be  more  impressive  than  the  con- 
clusion of  this  introductory  portion  of  our  poem.  The 
sympathy  of  the  reader  has  been  aroused  by  the 
melancholy  condition  of  the  homeless  wanderer,  who, 
in  the  midst  of  populous  towns  and  well-tilled  lands, 
gives  utterance  to  the  pathetic  line, 
"And  find  no  spot  of  all  the  world  my  own". 

"How  finely  is  this  line  contrasted  with  the  senti- 
ment which  follows  !    No  spot  his  own  !    It  is  all  his  ! 
He  has  taken  sympathetic  possession  of  the  whole ; 
'The  world,  the  world  is  mine!'" 

now  his  exultant  cry." 

In  this  philosophical  mood  the   poet  applies   him- 
self to  the  carrying  out  of  the  plan  of  his  poem. 

2.     The  Body  of  the  Poem. 

a.     Survey  of  the  Several  Regions  of  the  Earth  and 
the  Nations  of  Mankind. 

( 1 ) .     The  poet  would  fain  find  unalloyed  happiness 
and  contentment,  51-62. 

(a).     The  inhabitants  of  each  realm  think  their 
own  the  best,  63-73. 
a1.     The  sentiment  of  the  true  patriot. 

Suggestion  6.  How  does  the  poet  characterize  and  de- 
scribe the  cold  and  the  hot  regions  of  the  globe? 
What  does  he  consider  the  advantages  of  each  cli- 
mate? 

(b).     An  equal  proportion  of  good  and  evil  m 
every  clime,  people,  and  government,  74-98. / 

Suggestion  7.  Idra,  see  Idria.  What  is  the  meaning 
and  significance  of  line  84?  Paraphrase  lines  85,  86. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 


Criticise  the  philosophy  of  lines  91-92.     At  this  point 
make  a  special  study  of  the  "Heroic  Couplet".  What  \ 
impression  does  this  form  of  versification  make  upon      ) 
you  as  you  read  these  lines  to  yourself?  as  you  hear 
them  read?  as  you  read  them  aloud? 

Note  8.  A  different  good,  etc. — This  is  merely  a  ponderous 
way  of  saying-  that  the  human  race  can  adapt  itself    \ 
to  all  circumstances  and  find  comfort  and  happiness 
everywhere. 

Note  9. 

(1).  Wealth  and  freedom,  etc. — i.  e.,  the  aspirations 
inspired  by  unlimited  opportunity  tend  to 
make  the  less  successful  dissatisfied. 

(2).  Honour  sinks,  etc. — The  mediaeval  idea  that 
honor  is  an  exclusive  attribute  of  a  military 
caste  and  that  men  engaged  in  commercial 
pursuits  are  necessarily  cringing  and  mean 
died  out  among  English  speaking  people  with 
the  eighteenth  century. 

(2).     Manners  and  Government  of  Italy, 
(a).     Picture  of  Italy,  105-110. 

Suggestion  8.  Give  a  word  picture  of  the  scene  spread 
out  before  the  Traveller.  Expand  the  expression  gay, 
theatric  pride. 

Note  10.  Some  temples  mouldering  tops,  etc. — The  half- 
ruined  towers  and  pinnacles  of  the  churches  belong- 
ing to  towns  of  which  the  lower  buildings  were  hid- 
den from  view  by  the  foliage. 

(b).     What  Nature  has  done  for  Italy,  111-122. 
Suggestion  9.     Put  into  your  own  words  lines  111-122  and 
study     carefully     the     poet's     expression     for     each 
thought. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 


(c)*'    The    evils   that    counterbalance   Nature's 
C^good. 

a1>xxjEncect  of  commerce  and  consequent 
.wealth  upon  the  Sons  of  Italy.,  123-144. 

Note  11.  The  Italians  known  to  the  poet  were  slaves  of 
petty  tyrants  (who  were  themselves  dependent  upon 
foreign  despots)  and  were  crushed  beneath  the  weight 
of  an  intolerably  burdensome  ecclesiastical  organi- 
zation. Under  such  circumstances,  the  Italian  char- 
acter was  harshly  criticised  by  foreign,  and  especial- 
ly by  English,  travellers.  Since  the  Italian  race  has 
thrown  off  its  shackles,  it  has  proved  itself  inferior 
to  none  in  energy  and  capacity. 

Suggestion  10.  Expand  the  expression  contrasted  faults. 
Explain  the  line,  not  far  removed  the  date.  Put  into 
your  own  words  the  meaning  of  lines  135-138.  Re- 
produce Goldsmith's  arraignment  of  Italian  civiliza- 
tion in  lines  123-144. 

Note  12.  Not  far  removed  the  date. — The  glories  of  the 
Italian  city-republics  had  passed  away  before  the 
middle  of  the  17th  century. 

(d).     Compensations  for  the  loss  of  wealth  and; 

industry,  145-154. 

Note  13.    Pasteboard  triumphs,  etc. — Love  of  pageantrjN 
and  parade  is  a  prominent  trait  of  the  Italian  char-/ 
acter.      The     degenerate    Italians    whom    Goldsmith 
knew,  amused  themselves  by  mimicking  the  splendid 
ceremonial  triumphal  procession  of  their  ancestors. 

(e).     Deterioration  of  the  country,  155-164:— <^ 
Suggestion  11.     How  have  these  lines  proved  the  author's  / 
conclusion  (See  Note  2)   that  happiness  exists  not  inf' 
material  things  but  in  the  mind?     How  have  they\ 
proved  his  statement  that  there  is  an  equal  proportion/ 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 


\  of  good   and  ill   in  every  clime,  people,   and   govern- 
•T  ment? 

(3).     Eeflections  upon  the   condition  of   Switzer- 
land and  the  Swiss. 


(a).     Character  of  the  country,  165-174. 
Suggestion    12.     Note  the    force    of    the    epittiets 


torpid.  Describe  the  physical  aspect  of 
Switzerland  in  your  own  words,  stating  the  facts  that 
Goldsmith  has  stated.  Compare  the  prose  and  the 
poetical  descriptions. 

Note  14.  Man  and  steel:  —  In  the  seventeenth  and  eight- 
eenth centuries,  Swiss  soldiers  found  ready  employ- 
ment in  all  the  countries  of  Europe  as  body  guards- 
men, and  in  all  stations  where  faithfulness,  steady 
courage,  and  a  tall,  well-built  figure  were  requisite. 
As  the  money  brought  back  to  Switzerland  was  the 
only  outside  wealth  which  ever  came  into  the  coun- 
try, in  those  days,  it  might  well  be  said  that  the 
armed  man  was  an  article  of  export. 

(b).     Compensations  for  the  natural  disadvan- 
tages of  the  county. 

a1.     Character  of  the  Swiss  Mountaineer:  his\ 
simple  wants  :  his  patriotism,  175-208.   - 

Suggestion  13.  Enumerate  these  compensations,  stating 
the  facts  in  your  own  words.  Paraphrase  Content 
can  ____  redress  the  clime.  Give  the  full  force  of  the 
argument  which  Goldsmith  sums  up  in  the  line, 

And  sees  Ms  little  lot  the  lot  of  all. 
Paraphrase  line  187.     Enumerate  the  different  word 
pictures   of    these    lines.     What   impression    do   they 
give  you  of  the  Swiss  mountaineer?    Note  the  beauty 
of  lines  199-208.     Why  do  they  impress  you  as  being) 
especially  beautiful.  —  ==r-r 


10  OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 

b1.     The  poet's  reflections  upon  the  effect  of 

this  simple  life,  upon  character,  209-238. 
Suggestion    14.     Put  into  your  own  words  the  argument 
of  these    lines.     How   far   do   you   agree   with   Gold- 
smith? 

(4).     Manners  and  Customs  of  France. 

Note  15.  "Perhaps  the  happiest  of  all  the  national  porV 
traits  in  Goldsmith's  "TRAVELLER"  is  that  of 
France.  He  sympathized  with  the  French ;  his  pen  is 
often  employed  in  defending  them  from  absurd  at- 
tacks, and  combating  the  prejudices  of  the  English* 
man  of  his  day." 

(a).     Character  of  the  land   and  its  people,  239- 
280. 

Suggestion  15.  Quote  two  lines  in  which  Goldsmith 
characterizes  France.  What  personal  allusion  is  made 
in  these  lines?  Is  there  any  justification  for  the 
rhyming  in  lines  243,  244?  What  idea  does  Gold- 
smith express  in  line  246?  Give  the  word  picture  of 
lines  251-254.  What  idea  is  suggested  to  you  by  the 
expression  idly  busy?  WTiat  do  you  think  Goldsmith 
means  by  lines  259-266?  (See  Note  16).  Expand  line 
266,  giving  your  own  views  on  the  subject.  Put  into 
your  own  words  Goldsmith's  arguments  in  proof  of 
the  assertion  in  lines  269,  270.  Explain  in  full  the 
expression  solid  worth  of  self  applause.  Note  the 
beauty  and  excellence  of  the  last  four  lines  of  this 
passage.  Explain  what  is  meant  by  the  criticism 
that  in  these  four  lines  "there  is  a  refinement  of  anal- 
ysis expressed  in  the  most  graceful  diction". 

Note  16.     Honor,  that  praise,  etc. — That  is,  distinction  and 
praise    are  the    rewards    most    highly    valued    by    a    . 
Frenchman   and  he   is  willing  to  pay   others   in  the  / 
same  coin.    In  Goldsmith's  time,  the  English  regarded/ 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER  11 

the  French  as  their  natural  and  inveterate  enemies " 
and  it  was  fashionable  to  speak  disparagingly  of  the 
French  character.  r 

(5).     The  Poet's  reflections  upon  the  condition  of 
Holland. 

(a).     Character  of  the  country,  281-296. 

Suggestion  16.  Put  into  your  own  words  the  description 
of  Holland  contained  in  these  lines.  Compare  your 
description  with  that  of  the  poet.  Give  the  force  of 
the  adjectives  patient  and  amphibious.  Put  into  .1 
prose  description  the  picture  of  lines  293-296.  How 
does  line  290  impress  you? 

Note  17.  Patient  sons:— The  Hollanders  were,  and  still 
are,  famed  for  phlegmatic  persistency. 

Note  18.  Amphibious  world. — A  region  which  may  be 
dry  land  or  sea,  as  its  inhabitants  will. 

(b).  The  good  and  the  ill  effects  produced  by 
opulence  upon  the  character  of  such  a  people, 
279-316. 

Suggestion  17.  Put  into  your  own  words  the  argument 
of  these  lines.  Study  Notes  19,  20,  21,  22. 

Note  19.  Craft  and  fraud. — In  the  keen  commercial  riv- 
alry between  England  and  Holland  at  this  period,  the 
advantage  was  usually  on  the  side  of  the  Dutch. 
Consequently,  the  English  virtuously  deplored  the 
sordid  commercialism  of  their  rivals  and  their  addic- 
tion to  tricks  of  trade. 

Note  20.  Land  of  tyrants. — The  Netherlands  were,  at 
this  period,  (1764),  ruled  by  the  great  commercial 
corporations  (we  would  call  them  "trusts")  which 
dominated  the  politics  of  the  "seven  provinces".  The 
lines  are,  however,  a  gross  libel  on  a  brave  people  who 
for  three  hundred  years  had  maintained  their  inde- 


12  OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 

pendence  at  a  cost  of  which  the  English  people,  never 
seriously  threatened  by  foreign  enemies,  could  form 
no  conception. 

Note  21.  Belgic  sires. — The  swamps  where  the  industry 
of  later  ages  created  the  seven  provinces  of  the  Neth- 
erlands were  included  in  the  region  named  by  Julius 
Caesar,  Belgic  Gaul.  The  Romans  were  never  able  to 
subdue  or  exterminate  the  inhabitants  of  these  for- 
est-covered morasses. 

Note^ZT~'"OuT  poet  is  determined  to  find  an  equal  pro- 
/  portion  j)f  good  and  evil  in  every  clime;  and  some- 
tn»es  he  is  guilty  of  a  little  overcharge  in  this  or 
that  particular,  in  order  to  keep  the  balance  even. 
Only  thus  can  we  account  for  the  very  severe  lan- 
guage with  which  he  takes  leave  of  Holland.  He  had 
found  the  people  of  that  country  so  very  comfortable 
that  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  abuse  them  as — 
'A  land  of  tyrants  and  a  den  of  slaves' " 

(6).     England. 

(a).     The   Poet's   estimate  of  the  Briton,   317- 
334. 

Suggestion  18.  How  does  Goldsmith  manage  his  transi- 
tions from  one  theme  to  another  in  his  poem?  How 
does  the  poet  describe  England  and  the  English?  Ex- 
plain the  expression  courts  the  western  spring.  What 
are  the  characteristics  of  such  a  people  as  line  327 
describes?  To  what  social  condition  does  Goldsmith 
ascribe  the  English  character? 

Note  23.  Western  Spring. —  (a).  An  allusion  to  the  myth- 
ological fable  of  ever  vernal  islands  in  the  depths 
of  the  western  ocean,  (b).  Arcadian  pride. — Arca- 
dia was  the  one  district  of  ancient  Greece  where 
cities  were  unknown  and  where  people  lived  in  rural 
simplicity.  To  Greek  poets,  Arcadia  or  Arcadian 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TEAVELLEK  13 

suggested  unspoiled  nature ;  this  idea  was  further  de- 
veloped in  the  pastoral  poetry  and  romance  of  later 
ages.  (c).  Hydaspes. — The  river  Indus  or  one  of  its 
tributaries.  The  name  was  known  in  Europe  as  the 
eastern  limit  of  the  conquests  of  Alexander  the  Great. 
All  the  stories  which  reached  the  Greeks  and  Romans 
of  the  wonders  of  the  great  rivers  of  India  were  ap- 
plied by  them  to  the  Hydaspes,  the  only  one  which 
had  a  Greek  name. 

(b).     The    Social   evils   produced  by   Freedom, 
335-359. 

Suggestion  19.  Explain  line  338.  What  is  the  chief  ad- 
vantage of  freedom,  according  to  Goldsmith?  Ex- 
plain and  expand  line  341.  Reproduce  the  argument 
of  lines  349-359,  after  studying  Note  25.  How  is 
England  characterized  in  this  passage? 

Note  24.  Self  dependent  lordlings. — That  is,  every  man 
whose  social  position  gave  him  influence  felt  free  to 
use  that  influence  as  his  own  judgment  or  whim 
might  dictate.  Englishmen  had  never  known  the  ne- 
cessity for  keeping  a  united  front  against  the  world 
— a  necessity  which,  in  other  countries,  eliminated 
the  spirit  of  faction,  or,  at  least,  kept  it  hidden. 

Note  25.  As  nature's  ties  decay. — In  common  with  moSjb 
literary  men  of  his  day,  Goldsmith  deplored  the  pass- 
ing of  the  feudal  basis  of  society,  "service  for  pro- 
tection", and  the  substitution  for  it  of  the  modern 
spirit  of  commercialism  which  made  the  natural  de- 
pendents of  the  great  their  tenants  or  employees  and 
reduced  the  military  vassals  of  the  crown  to  the  po- 
sition of  mere  taxpayers.  He  sincerely  believed  that 
this  tendency  would  result  in  a  mad  scramble  for 
wealth  in  which  the  successful  contestants  would  lose 
all  sense  of  honor  and  responsibility  and  the  defeated 
would  forfeit  their  self  respect  and  personal  freedom. 


14  OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 

Experience  has  proved  the  groundlessness  of  this  fear. 
No  one  would  defend  commercialism  as  an  ideal  basis 
for  human  society;  but  from  the  standpoint  of  the 
masses  of  civilized  men  it  has  proved  the  best  basis 
which  society  has  ever  had. 

(c).     Apostrophe  to  Freedom,  361-376. 

Suggestion  20.  Study  this  passage  with  the  aid  of  Note 
20. 

Note  26.  Those  who  think  etc. — Under  the  commercial 
system,  no  one  is  exempt  from  toil  or  forbidden  to 
think.  The  feudal  system  assigned  the  thinking  to 
one  class  of  the  community  and  the  toiling  to  an- 
other. 

(d).     The  Poet's  reflections  on  the  political  and 
social  condition  of  England,  377-432. 

Suggestion  21.  What  is  the  historical  allusion  in  line 
381?  in  lines  387,  388,  404?  Paraphrase  lines  401,  402. 
Eeproduce  Goldsmith's  views  on  depopulation.  Study 
Note  27  in  this  connection. 

Note  27.  Stern  depopulation. — It  is  difficult  to  justify 
this  statement,  which  was  repeated  a  few  years  later 
in  the  "Deserted  Village",  by  any  facts  that  could 
have  come  under  Goldsmith's  observation.  There 
never  was  any  wholesale  emigration  from  England  to 
America,  and  the  great  migrations  from  Ireland  and 
the  western  islands  of  Scotland  belong  to  a  later  gen- 
eration. We  can  only  suppose  that  the  poet  accepted 
as  an  accomplished  fact  what  was  nothing  more  than 
an  alarmist's  prediction. 

Suggestion  22.  What  portions  of  America  are  designated 
by  lines  421-432?  Did  Goldsmith  know  anything 
about  the  country  described?  How  is  Niagara  pro- 
nounced here?  Note  that  line  432  is  one  of  the  few 
stilted  and  affected  lines  of  the  poem. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TBAVELLEB  15 

Note  28. 

(1).  Contending  chiefs — i.  e.,  Party  leaders.  At  the 
time  "THE  TRAVELLER"  was  written,  King 
George  III  was  making  the  last  stand  of  the 
kings  of  England  for  the  right  of  personal 
participation  in  the  government. 

(2).  Pillaged  from  slaves,  etc. — The  wealth  brought 
home  by  the  conquerors  of  India  figured 
prominently  in  the  shameless  corruption  of 
British  politics  at  this  period. 

(3).     Till  half  a  patriot,  etc. — That  is,  "Regal  powerw 
may  be  abused ;  and  I  know  not  whether  it  is 
patriotism  or  cowardice  which  prompts  me  to 
risk  despotism  as  an  escape  from  the  violence 
and  turmoil  of  party  government." 

(4).     When  first   ambition,  etc. — An  allusion  to  the 

English  revolution  of   1688  which  established^/ 
the     principle     that    the     kings    of    England 
reigned  by  consent  of  the  nation  and  not  by 
"divine  right". 
Note  29.     Oswego  and  Niagara  were  probably  selected  at 

random     from     the     American     geographical     names 

known  to  the  poet. 

3.     Conclusion,  433-448. 

Suggestion  23.  What  two  lines  here  sum  up  the  con- 
clusions reached  by  Goldsmith  in  his  discussion? 
Learn  the  last  eight  lines  of  the  poem.  Study  Note 
2.  Explain  the  allusions  of  line  446. 

Note  30.  Luke's  iron  crown.  George  and  Luke  Dosa 
headed  an  unsuccessful  revolt  against  the  Hungarian 
nobles  in  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth  century. 
Luke  (according  to  Goldsmith)  underwent  the  torture 
of  the  red-hot  iron  crown  as  a  punishment  for  allow- 
ing himself  to  be  proclaimed  king.  History  says  it 
was  George,  not  Luke. 


16  OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 

Note  31.  Damiens'  bed  of  steel.—  Damiens  in  1757  at- 
tempted the  life  of  Louis  XV.  He  was  taken  to  the 
conciergerie  ;  an  iron  bed,  which  likewise  served  as 
a  chair,  was  prepared  for  him,  and  to  this  he  was 
fastened  with  chains.  He  was  then  tortured,  and 
ultimately  torn  to  pieces  by  wild  horses. 

C.     SECOND  BEADING. 


THE  EXECUTION  OF  THE  POEM: 
ITS  LITERARY  MERITS 

ji 
I.  .  THE  EXECUTION  OF  THE  POEM. 

1.  Epithets  Used  in  the  Poem. 

Suggestion  24.  State  the  significance  of  each  word 
printed  in  italics.  Note  that  each  single  word  serves 
to  bring  to  the  mind  a  long  train  of  thought.  Quote 
the  line  in  which  each  expression  occurs. 

a.  Unfriended,  lazy  Scheld,  wandering  Po,  heart  un- 
travelled,  a  ready  chair,  the  ruddy  family,  thankless 
pride,  palmy  wine,  sea-born  gale,  gelid  wings,  bleak 
Swiss,  stormy  mansion,  torpid  rocks,  finny  deep, 
level  life,  tuneless  pipe,  amphibious  world,  stern  de- 
population, giddy  tempest. 

2.  Passages  to  parp^hrase. 

Suggestion  25.  Note  the  phraseology  of  each  sentence, 
Pnt  each  sept^^f  into  sirrmle  words  and  compare 
the  r>ros^  vf»r«'™  with  the  noetical.  Be  careful  t."» 
the  a  thor's  exact  meaning. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER  17 

a.  Trim  their  evening  fire. 

b.  Ye  lakes,  whose  vessels  catch  the  busy  gale. 

c.  Ye  bending  swains  that  dress  the  flowery  vale. 

d.  Shuddering  tenant  of  the  frigid  zone. 

e.  These  rocks  by  custom  turn  to  beds  of  down. 

f .  Let  us  try  these  truths  with  closer  eyes. 

g.  Whose  bright  succession  decks  the  varied  year., 
h.  Sea-born  gales  their  gelid  wings  expand. 

i.  To  winnow  fragrance  round  the  smiling  land, 

j.  The  pregnant  quarry  teemed  with  human  form, 

k.  Winter  lingering  chills  the  lap  of  May. 

1.  With  patient  angle  trolls  the  finny  deep, 

m.  Love's  and  friendship's  finely  pointed  dart, 

Fall  blunted  from  each  indurated  heart, 

n.  Where  the  broad  ocean  leans  against  the  land, 

o.  Where  Britain  courts  the  western  spring, 

p.  Her  useful  sons  exchanged  for  useless  ore. 

3.     Characterizations. 

Suggestion  26.     Identify  each. 

a.  Where  the  rude  Carinthian  boor,  etc. 

b.  The  circle  bounding  earth  and  skies. 

c.  Kinder  skies  where  gentler  manners  reign. 

d.  Gay  sprightly  land  of  mirth  and  social  ease. 

e.  The  wave-subjected  soil. 

f .  A  land  of  tyrants  and  a  den  of  slaves. 

g.  The  land  of  scholars  and  the  nurse  of  arms. 


18  OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 

h.     Thou  transitory  flower  alike  undone, 

By  proud  contempt  or  flavor's  fostering  sun. 
i.     Lords  of  human  kind, 
j.     Where  beasts  with  man  divided  empire  claim. 

4.     Word  Pictures  from  the  Poem. 

Suggestion  27.  Enumerate  all  the  details  which  enter 
into  the  composition  of  the  following-  word  pictures 
in  the  "Traveller". 

a.  The  wandering  Po. 

b.  The  shuddering  tenant  of  the  frigid  zone. 

c.  The  negro  panting  at  the  line. 

d.  Italy  seen  from  the  summit  of  the  Apennines. 

e.  Those  domes  where  Caesars  once  held  sway. 

f.  Switzerland. 

g.  The  Swiss  mountaineer, 
h.  The  murmuring  Loire, 
i.  Holland,  Lines  293-296. 

j.     The  pensive  exile  bending  with  his  woe. 

II.     THE  LITERARY  MERITS  OF  THE  TRAVELLER. 
1.     The  Versification  of  the  Poem. 

a.  Written  in  "heroic  verse". 

"Note  32.  Heroic  verse  is  an  iambic  of  ten  syllables.  It 
is  written  in  rhyming  couplets. 

b.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  heroic  measure  is  usually 
stilted    and    artificial,    the    versification    of    THE 
TEAVELLEE  is  characterized  by  harmony,  sweet- 
ness, and  grace. 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 


2.     Quoted  Criticisms  of  THE  TRAVELLER. 

Suggestion  28.  Explain  the  meaning  of  each  paragraph, 
illustrating  your  explanation  with  extracts  from  the 
poeni  under  discussion.  State  your  opinion  of  each 
criticism. 

a.  When  THE  TEAVELLER  was  published   (De- 
cember, 1764),  the  most  skillful  critics  of  the  time 
agreed  that   nothing    finer  had   appeared  in   verse 
since  the  fourth  book  of  the  "Dunciad".  —  Macaulay. 

Suggestion  29.  Give  the  full  force  of  this  criticism,  tak- 
ing into  account  the  time  in  which  it  was  written. 

b.  In  one  respect  THE  TRAVELLER  differs  from 
all  Goldsmith's  other  writings.     In  general  his  de- 
signs were  bad  and  his  execution  good.     In  THE 
TRAVELLER  the  execution,  though  deserving  of 
much  praise,  is  far  inferior  to  the  design.    No  phil- 
osophical poem,  ancient  or  modern,  has  a  plan  so 
noble,  and  at  the  same  time  so  simple. 

c.  "There  is  not  a  bad  line  in  the  poem". 

Suggestion  30.  Do  you  agree  unreservedly  with  this 
statement? 

d.  There  is  perhaps  no  other  poem  in  the  English 
language  which  combines  an  equal  amount  of  ease 
and  polish  —  which  preserves  a  juster  medium  be- 
tween negligence  and  constraint.     The  sentiments 
and  language  are  of  the  same  mild  and  equable  cast. 
There  are  no  bold  flights  of  fancy,  no  daring  meta- 
phors, no  sublime  ideas  or  penetrating  maxims.  The 
charm  is  in  the  happy  selection  of  the  particulars 


20  OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TBAVELLEB 

which  compose  Goldsmith's  pictures  of  men  and 
nature  in  the  different  countries  of  Europe,  and  in 
the  almost  unvarying  elegance,  and  often  the  ex- 
quisite felicity,  of  the  language  in  which  these  par- 
ticulars are  embodied.  Many  single  lines  are  un- 
surpassed for  gentle  beauty  of  expression,  and  for 
the  distinctness  of  the  image  which  they  place  be- 
fore the  mind." 

e.  Goldsmith  excels   in   those  artifices   of   style  by 
which  the  repetition  of  words  and  phrases  adds  mel- 
ody and  force. 

f.  No  man  ever  put  so  much  of  himself  into  a  book 
as  Goldsmith.    His  recollections  color  THE  TRAV- 
ELLER  and  "The  Deserted  Village". 

g.  The  principal  name  of  his  literary  period  is  that 
of  Goldsmith,  than  which  few  names  stand  higher 
or  fairer  in  the  annals  of  literature.    As  a  poet,  he 
is  the  most  flowing  and  elegant  of  our  versifiers 
since  Pope,  with  traits  of  artless  nature  which  Pope 
had  not,  and  with  a  peculiar  felicity  in  his  turns 
upon  words,  which  he  constantly  repeated  with  de- 
lightful effect,  such  as : 

" His  I0t?  though  small, 

He  sees  that  little  lot,  the  lot  of  all." 

»          Suggestion  31.     This  criticism  was  written  in  1818.  Has 
the  criticism  the  same  value  and  force  to-day? 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER  21 

D.     SUPPLEMENTARY  WORK. 

jl 

OLIVER  GOLDSMITH: 
THEME    SUBJECTS 

4 
I.    OLIVER  GOLDSMITH. 

Note  33.  That  exhibition  of  serio-comic  sprightliness  and 
naive  simplicity  which  gives  a  peculiar  charm  to 
Goldsmith's  works,  showed  itself  equally  in  his  life. 
In  his  writings  it  amuses  us.  But  when  we  think  of 
the  poverty  and  hardship  and  drudgery  which  fell  to 
his  lot,  we  cannot  smile  at  the  man  with  the  same 
hearty  good  will.  Still  the  ludicrous  element  re- 
mains. Even  in  his  outward  appearance  his  biogra- 
phers have  to  admit  it,  and  make  the  best  of  it. 
"Though  his  complexion  was  pale,  his  face  round  and 
pitted  with  the  smallpox,  and  though  a  somewhat  re- 
markable projection  of  his  forehead  and  his  upper  lip 
suggested  excellent  sport  for  the  caricaturists,  the 
expression  of  intelligence,  benevolence,  and  good 
humour  predominated  over  every  disadvantage,  and 
made  the  face  extremely  pleasing." 

At  school  and  college  he  showed  all  the  symptoms 
of  a  dunce,  and  many  of  those  of  a  fool.  Then,  after 
idling  some  time,  he  succeeded  in  failing  utterly  in 
a  very  fair  number  of  attempts  to  set  up  in  life,  as 
much  out  of  sheer  negligence  and  simplicity  as  in- 
capacity ;  and  when  his  friends  had  pretty  well  given 
him  up,  he  set  out,  with  a  flute  in  his  hand,  and 
nothing  in  his  pocket,  to  see  the  world.  He  passed 


ed 


22  OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 

through  many  countries  and  much  privation;  and 
finally  returned,  bringing-  with  him  a  degree  in  med- 
icine, some  medical  knowledge,  and  that  wide  experi- 
ence of  manners  which  ever  fed  his  genius  more  than 
reading  or  books.  Now  he  became  usher  in  a  school, 
apothecary's  journeyman,  poor  physician,  press  cor- 
rector, and  other  things,  alternately  or  simultaneously 
starving  and  suffering ;  finally  he  became  a  reviewer. 
He  made  one  attempt  more  to  escape  from  bondage; 
obtained  an  appointment  as  medical  officer  at  Coro- 
mandel ;  lost  it,  and  then  finally  settled  down  to  the 
profession  of  author.  Fame  soon  came  to  the  side  of 
Sorrow,  and  Pleasure  often  joined  them ;  till  death, 
fifteen  years  later,  took  him  away.  He  was  buried 
in  the  Temple  burying  ground,  and  his  epitaph,  writ- 
ten by  Johnson,  was  placed  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

Undoubtedly  Goldsmith's  greatest  works  are  those 
which  were  labors  of  love.  THE  TRAVELLER  and 
"The  Deserted  Village"  stand  first,  with  their  grace- 
ful simplicity  without  humor.  Then  the  "Vicar  of 
Wakefield",  which  joins  shrewd  humor  to  simplicity. 
His  comedies  proved  most  remunerative.  In  all  his 
works,  self  chosen  or  dictated  by  necessity,  his  style 
remains  attractive. 

As  to  his  character,  Goldsmith  has  accurately 
sketched  himself :  "Fond  of  enjoying  the  present, 
careless  of  the  future,  his  sentiments  those  of  a  man 
of  sense,  his  actions  those  of  a  fool ;  of  fortitude  able 
to  stand  unmoved  at  the  bursting  of  an  earthquake, 
yet  of  sensibility  to  be  affected  by  the  breaking  of  a 
teacup."  Prosperity  added  to  his  difficulties  as  well 
as  to  his  enjoyments :  the  more  money  he  had  the 
more  thoughtlessly  he  expended,  wasted,  or  gave  it 
away.  Yet  his  heart  was  right.  He  squandered  his 
money  quite  as  often  in  reckless  benevolence  as  in 
personal  indulgence.  In  private  life,  or  at  the  famous 


OUTLINE  STUDY,  LXX,  THE  TRAVELLER 


Literary  Club,  where  he  figured  both  in  great  and 
little,  in  wisdom  and  in  wit,  his  friends  who  laughed 
at  him,  loved  and  valued  him.  When  he  died,  Burke 
wept.  Reynolds  laid  aside  his  work.  Johnson  was 
touched  to  the  quick.  "Let  not  his  failings  be  re- 
membered :  he  was  a  very  great  man",  he  said.  — 
Chambers'  Book  of  Days. 


II.     THEME  SUBJECTS. 

1.  Goldsmith's  Journey  on  Foot  Over  the  Continent, 

2.  Wiser  Tie,  whose  sympathetic  mind 
Exults  in  all  the  good  of  all  mankind. 

3.  His  first,  lest  country  ever  is  at  home. 

4.  Where  wealth  and  freedom  reign  contentment  fails- 

5.  The  "Long-fallen  Columns"  of  Italy. 

6.  He  sees  his  little  lot  the  lot  of  all. 

7.  Seeming  blest  they  grow  to  what  they  seem. 

8.  The  Dikes  of  Holland. 

9.  The  Blessings  of  Freedom. 

10.  The  land  of  scholars  and  the  nurse  of  arms. 

11.  Those  who  think  must  govern  those  who  toiL 

12.  Our  own  felicity  we  make  or  find. 


The  Use  of  Outline  Studies 


The  use  of  Outline  Studies  may  or  may  not  be  advisable. 
It  depends  on  the  character  of  the  Outlines. 

Those  that  furnish  ready-made  information;  those  that  do 
the  work  which  the  pupil  should  do  for  himself;  those  that  make 
it  scarcely  necessary  for  him  to  examine  the  book  that  is  out- 
lined; these  are  well  named  "Canned  English."  These  deserve 
the  reprobation  that  is  heaped  upon  them  by  thoughful  teachers. 

There  are  other  Outlines  that  have  been  made  with  special 
care  for  the  scholarly  interests  of  the  pupil.  They  are  based  on 
sound  pedagogical  principles.  They  are  in  every  respect  helpful 
and  commendable. 


The  Kingsley  Outline  Studies 

Are  distinguished  from  all  others 
by  the  following  features: 

1.  They    open    with  a     brief    paragraph  on    "Preparatory 
Work,"  which  helps  the  pupil  to  get  his  bearings,  to  place  the 
book  to  be  studied  in  its  proper  setting  in  the  general  scheme 
of  history  and  of  literature. 

2.  They  require   the   pupil   to   read    the   book  three   times, 
studying  it  critically  each  time  from  a  different  view  point. 

3.  They  close  with  a  section  on  "Supplementary  Work",  in- 
cluding a  valuable  list  of  theme  subjects  and  examination  ques- 
tions. 

4.  Throughout,  the  Kingsley  Outlines  are  almost  wholly  in 
the  form  of  suggestion  and  direction  rather  than  of  assertion. 
They  raise  questions  and  set  the  pupil  at  work  to  do  his  own 
thinking.     They  are  not  a  crutch,  but  an  inspiration. 

The  series  numbers  70  on  English,  one  each  on  Grammar  and 
Geography,  5  (4  ready)  on  History,  and  10  on  Latin  (Caesar, 
Cicero  and  Virgil). 

Send  for  Complete  Catalogue. 


THE  PALMER  CO. 

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Grammar  Grade  Outline  Studies 

BACH  OUTLINE,  15  CENTS.    SINGLE  TITLES  IN 
QUANTITIES   FOR   CLASS  USE,   10%  DISCOUNT 

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26  SNOWBOUND WhMer 

27  RIP  VAN  WINKLE firing 

28  LEGEND  OF  SLEEPY  HOLLOW      .       .       .        Irving 

29  LAY  OF  THE  LAST  MINSTREL  .   •    .       .          Scott 

30  MARMION Scott 

3J  MAN  WITHOUT  A  COUNTRY    .       .       .          Hale 

32  TALES  OF  A  WAYSIDE  INN          .       .       Longfellow 

33  TWO  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST     .        .         Van* 

34  CHRISTMAS  CAROL Dickens 

35  HOUSE  OF  THE  SEVEN  GABLES  Hawthorne 


-ALSO- 


36  THE  TEMPEST Shakespeare 

37  MIDSUMMER  NIGHT'S  DREAM    ,       .      Shakespeare 

38  HAMLET Shakespeare 

39  AS  YOU  LIKE  IT       .....      Shakespeare 

40  LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS    ...       Cooper 
4J  THE  SAGA  OF  KING  OLAF  .       .       .       Longfellow 

For  other  Shakespeare  Outlines  and  the  College  English  list 
Nos.  i  to  22,  see  back  cover. 


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49  FRANKLIN'S  AUTOBIOGRAPHY'. 

50  TWELFTH  NIGHT 

51  KING  HENRY  V 

52  THE  RAPE  OF  THE  LOCK 

53  LORNA  DOONE 

54  LAYS  OF  ANCIENT  ROME 

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59  WEBSTER'S  FIRST  BUNKER  HILL  ORATION 

WASHINGTON'S  FAREWELL  ADDRESS  . 

60  PROLOGUE  TO  CANTERBURY  TALES 

61  FAERffiQUEENE.    Book  I    .... 

62  HEROES  AND  HERO  WORSHIP    . 

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