poem, though it was not written for its moral, is contained in the parting words of the dreadful mariner: "Farewell, farewell! but this I tell "He prayeth best, who loveth best 349. Three Periods.- The life of Coleridge has been divided into three periods, according to the prevailing character of his intellectual activity. The first, extending to the year 1798, has been called the poetic period. The second, extending to the year 1818, is known as the critical period. His best known work of this period is the "Biographia Literaria," in which, often in a charming way, he sketches his literary life and opinions. The third, extending to his death in 1834, is characterized as the theological period. During the latter part of his life, his dominant interest was metaphysics and theology. In philosophy he was a transcendentalist. He was a profound student of the German metaphysicians, particularly of Kant, Schelling, and Hegel, whose teachings he was the first to naturalize in England. In 1825 he published his "Aids to Reflection," the purpose of which was to show that the Christian faith is the perfection of human intelligence." It is regarded by many as his ablest work. 66 350. A Fascinating Talker. There was a wonderful magnetism about Coleridge's personality. He gathered about him a circle of disciples, who revered him as a prophet. His conversation exerted a fascinating power, even when by reason of its depth or transcendentalism it was not clearly understood. No more wonderful talker has appeared since the days of Johnson. His "Table Talk," preserved by his nephew, gives an idea of the acuteness and variety of his observation, though C not of his inspired impressiveness. "Throughout a long-drawn summer's day," says Henry Nelson Coleridge, "would this man talk to you in low, equable, but clear and musical tones, concerning things human and divine; marshalling all history, harmonizing all experiment, probing the depths of your consciousness, and revealing visions of glory and of terror to the imagination; but pouring withal such floods of light upon the mind that you might, for a season, like Paul, become blind in the very act of conversion." 1 351. Aims and Work.-Coleridge calmly passed away July 25, 1834. In spite of his many defects of character and life, his aims were pure and good. "As God hears me," he wrote only a few months before his death, "the originating, continuing, and sustaining wish and design in my heart were to exalt the glory of His name and, which is the same thing in other words, to promote the improvement of mankind." That he did not, with his magnificent gifts, accomplish more was due to a will of singular infirmity. He did not restrain his thought and imagination, which moved in large orbits like Saturn or Jupiter, within the range of his power of achievement. And in the composition of his works he was constantly drawn aside from the logical path of development by every beautiful prospect that burst upon him from adjacent fields. His works are rarely systematic and complete; but in spite of their obvious defects, they are suggestive, original, profound, ranking him as one of the greatest thinkers of his age. FOR FURTHER READING AND STUDY. The political and social condition of England, Green, "Short History of the English People,” pp. 786-836, Gardiner, "Student's History of England," pp. 792-914. A review of Lamb's “Tales of Shakespeare.” A critique of his "Dissertation upon Roast Pig" in the "Essays of Elia." What eleinents of character are shown in the essay "The Praise of Chimney 1 See Carlyle's sketch in the "Life of Sterling." Sweepers?" A review of "A Bachelor's Complaint of the Behavior of Married People" in the "Essays of Elia." What difference does Lamb point out between "The Old and the New Schoolmaster?" A review of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," Painter, "Guide to Literary Criticism," Ch. XII. A study of Jane Porter's "Thaddeus of Warsaw" or "The Scottish Chiefs." A review of the first part of Campbell's "Pleasures of Hope." A study of his martial odes, "Battle of the Baltic," "Ye Mariners of England," and "Hohenlinden." A criticism of the following lyrics: "Exile of Erin," "Ode to the Memory of Burns,” “The Soldier's Dream," To the Rainbow," "The Last Man,' "Hallowed Ground," "A Thought Suggested by the New Year," "How Delicious is the Winning." Make a collection of striking or felicitous passages from these poems. The story of Keats's "Lamia." A critique of his "Eve of St. Agnes." A study of the "Ode to a Nightingale" and "Ode to a Grecian Urn." A study of Keats's sonnets. A scene from Southey's Thalaba." An incident from "The Curse of Kebama." The sentiments of his "Ode Written during the Negotiations with Bonaparte in 1814." A brief paper on "The Battle of Blenheim " and Stanzas Written in his Library." 66 66 The three best lyrics in Moore's "Irish Melodies." The story of his "Paradise and Peri" in "Lalla Rookh." A paper on "The Light of the Harem." A comparative study of Hood's The Haunted House" and Coleridge's "The Ancient Mariner." What traits of character are revealed in "The Bridge of Sighs" and "The Song of the Shirt." In what other poems of Hood is the same spirit shown? A critique of the two poems I Remember, I Remember " and "The Death-bed." A paper on Hood's humorous poems. most interesting letter in "Up the Rhine." The A study of Shelley's "Ode to Liberty' and "Ode to the West Wind. A critique of "The Cloud," and "To a Skylark.' A study of the "Hymn to Intellectual Beauty." A comparison of Shelley's "Mont Blanc" and Coleridge's "Hymn Before Sunrise." A review of Shelley's "Adonais": how does it compare with Milton's "Lycidas"? A comparative study of Aeschylus' 'Prometheus Bound" (Mrs. Browning's translation) and Shelley's "Prometheus Unbound." The plot of the drama of "The Cenci." Campbell, “Samuel Taylor Coleridge," Traill, "Life of Coleridge” (English 66 Men of Letters), Caine, “Life of Coleridge" (Great Writers Series), Carlyle, "Life of Sterling," De Quincey, "Literary Reminiscences," Coleridge "Biographia Literaria." 66 A study of the versification of "The Ancient Mariner" with special reference to its irregularities, Painter, “Guide to Literary Criticism," Part III. Coleridge's estimate of the "Lyrical Ballads,” “ Biographia Literaria,” Ch. IV. The occasion of the “Lyrical Ballads," Biographia Literaria," Ch. XIV. A review of the "Hymn before Sunrise in the Vale of Chamouni." A study of the poem "To William Wordsworth." Coleridge's attitude to nature as shown in "The Nightingale." The political sympathies exhibited in the "Ode to France." A review of "Christabel." An outline of the tragedy “Remorse." Coleridge as a talker, Carlyle, "Life of Sterling," Ch. VIII. Coleridge's estimate of Hamlet, "Lectures on Shakespeare." SIR WALTER SCOTT. 352. Literary Rank.- The greatest literary figure during the first quarter of the nineteenth century is undoubtedly Sir Walter Scott. He occupied scarcely less relative prominence for a time than did Samuel Johnson a few decades earlier. It is not uncommon to associate his name with the period in which he was preeminent. He distinguished himself in both poetry and prose. He created a species of romantic poetry that was received with great applause until it was eclipsed by the intenser productions of Byron. "Why did you quit poetry?" a friend once inquired of Scott. "Because Byron beat me," was the remarkably frank reply. He then turned to fiction; and in his splendid series of historical romances he stands preeminent not only among the writers of England, but of the world. 353. Ancestry.- Sir Walter Scott descended from a line distinguished for sports and arms rather than letters. His father was a dignified man, orderly in his habits, and fond of ceremony. It is said that he "absolutely loved a funeral"; and from far and near he was sent for to superintend mortuary ceremonies. As a lawyer he frequently lost clients by insisting that they should be just a sturdy uprightness that was transmitted to his illustrious son. Sir Walter's mother was a woman of superior native ability and of excellent education. She had a good memory and a talent for narration. "If I have been able to do anything in the way of painting past times," he once wrote, "it is very much from the studies with which she presented me." He loved his mother tenderly; and the evening after his burial a number of small objects that had once belonged to her were found arranged in careful order in his desk, where his eye might rest upon them every morning before he began his task. This is an instance of filial piety as touching as it is beautiful. |