Studies in English and American literature, from Chaucer to the present time;

Front matter

spits

L i-

WMm. _

Preface

This book has been written because there seems to be a necessity for a work of the kind in order to teach literature successfully.

Too often the drill in rhetoric and grammar which our young men and women receive in schools ends with the mere technical drill, without any application of the principles of either science to the critical analysis and study of our literature. The study ’of literature as pur¬ sued in the usual way is the study of special biography, and in no way helps the young student either to appre¬ ciate the classics of our language or to prepare himself for authorship.

The object of this book is to present not only a brief biographical sketch of the representative writers, but also a criticism of their work, and, following this, a masterpiece selected from each author’s writings, with such explanatory notes appended as seem necessary, and such questions as will lead the pupil to study close¬ ly and critically not only the beauties, but also the de¬ fects, of his language, style, and thought. The teacher will of course add many questions which want of space prevents the author from inserting. It is thought that a sufficient number of questions, however, have been given to induce the pupil to study each selection with care. Experience in the class-room sustains the author of this work in saying that pupils pursue the study of

PREFACE.

literature and classics by this method with great eager¬ ness and delight.

Twenty-seven standard writers have been selected to represent the literature of Great Britain, and twenty-three that of America. The author does not claim that the list is complete: many may differ with him also in the choice of selections to be studied ; but the field from which to glean is so extended that it would be absurd for any one to claim that he alone has made the best choice. To the fifty standard writers have been added the chief contemporaries of each Age, many of whom might properly be included among the representative writers did not the limited size of the book prevent.

The book does not aim to be a complete history of English Literature: it seeks, rather, to combine the study of English Classics with the study of the history of English Literature, and thus awaken such an inter¬ est as will lead the student not only to read biography, but also to seek culture through the study of master¬ pieces of English style and thought.

The author desires to express his acknowledgment to various American publishing-houses for permission to make selections from their copyright editions of Amer¬ ican authors ; also to Miss Harriet B. Swineford, Teacher of English Literature, English Grammar, and Rhetoric in the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, whose untiring industry and excellent literary taste have greatly aided him in the production of this book.

Lock Haven, Pa., ]

ALBERT N. RAUB.

Contents

PAGE

Figures of Speech . 9

ENGLISH LITERATURE.