Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-26
Studies In Bryant.

Studies In Bryant.
The above poem by William Cullen Bry.
ant is taken from DR.. Aden's Studies in
Bryant" sufficient number of the ques-
tions and answers there given being here ap-
pended to show the plan of the work. This
kind of exercise may be used in school with
profit, as an occasional substitute for the
regular recitation in grammar or analysis (;
or, if made to cover little more ground, in
place of that study altogether. 1t will aid
in awakening deeper interest not only in
the writings of that gifted poet but in find
ing new beauties in poetry in general.
Bryant, in his introduction to the authors
work, in speaking of the object of the book,
says: at is designed to teach the readers
of poetry the art of forming satisfactory
judgment of what they read, to apply their
faculties vigorously to the subject in hand,
to analyze and point out the results of their
analysis, to discriminate and give reasons
for their determinations" GAS a mental
exercise it has the effect of quickening the
faculties, enabling the pupil to distinguish
between false glitter and real splendor, be-
tween what is superfuous and what is essen
tial, between what is frivolous and what is
weighty and important; in short, between
sense and nonsense" ain judging of poetry
the main office of criticism is to discover
beauties, for it is these only which reward
the search"
Authors of works on analysis usually sci
forth with great emphasis that this subject
should be studied as means, not as an end
that thorough mastery of it is necessary
to enable the pupil to construct correct sen
tences for himself and to give him better
understanding of the writings of others
But as generally taught, analysis is merely
the requirement by the pupil of the ability
to name and show the grammatical relation,
of the elements Of sentence, and the NOR
glibly he can rattle off the names Of thes,
elements, the greater is considered hi
ability. So far so good; but, dropped here
it is of no greater use in finding out the re
lations to each other of the thoughts com
posing sentence than rapidly counting
string of beads in the dark would be in as
certaining whether they were made of lea,
or of gold
But by the process adopted by the autho
Of this work the reader is made to see how
in poem, "one thought grows out o
another, and how single word sometime
sets whole pictdre before the imagina
tion." "But beyond this the process ex
poses whatever is faulty" IF the though
be obscurely and vaguely expressed, tn
reader sees that it is but half thought
it be burdened with unimportaut acces
sories, he sees how they weaken its force
In short, he perceives how much the though
is dependent for the impression it makes OF
the language in which it is clothed"
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Question-What is the office of the frs
stauza-what does it do Answer-It ask
a question.
Q.-What question does it ask Al
asks where the waterfowl is going
Q.-Give the question in the language o
the text. A." Whittier dost thou pursu
thy solitary way ?"
Q,-What offices do the remaining fact
Of the stanza perform? A.-They state Al
tendant circumstances.
Q.--What is the office of the phrase i
first line 4? A.-To indicate the time
evening.
Q.-What is the office of the clause cor
stituting the second line A.-To describ
the appearance of the heavens at the clos
of day.
Q.-ln the first line why is ,ohither bette
than wheref Whittier means " to whs
| place" where means at or in what place.
Whittier is more definite than where.
Q.-Why would not balmy deus be bette
than falling depsi A.-The author wishe
to state the fact that the dew was falling
not to describe the dew.
Q.-Why is whae better than yheref
-Whae denotes continuance.
| Q.-Why is glow better than shine A.
Shine would not give the idea intended b
the author. The first conception suggeste
by shine is that of radiation.
Q.-What is meant by the last steps
dayf A.-The close of day.
Q.-What figure is here used A.
rsonifcation-day is personifed. tl
Q.--Do steps ever glow2 A.--Steps {
men or of animals do not Last steps Of do
is a metaphorical expression for the clos
of day. The western sky glows at the cloi
of day.
Q,-What not azure instead OF rosy depth
A.-Rosy describes the appearance Of I'll
heavens. The glow Of heavens at the clo'
of day is not an azure glow.
| Q.-Why not say Thy unattended ,oay A.
SOLITARY is more expressive It confines Il
attention to the object. Unattended cal
up the idea of attendants.
| Q.-What is the office of the first tv
lines Of the second stanzs2 A.--To NAL
statement or affirmation.
| Q.-Give the statement in prose. A.
is useless for the fowler to watch its fig
for the purpose of shooting it.
Q.--Why is fowier used instead of hunt
or sportsmanf A.--Fotoier is more speci
term. As a general rule, the more speci
the term the greater the vivacity. Foul
is more special than hunter; and hunter, thi
portsman. rs.. ,l
Q.-Is eye fgurative or literal A.--Fi
urative. The instrument is put for u
agent.