The present beautiful beginning and close were added in 1822, when eight of Bryant's poems were published in a pamphlet of forty-eight pages. Bryant is distinguished for the quality of his blank verse. No other American poet has used it so effectively. It has an elevation, rhythm, and sonorous music that furnish a fitting dress for his lofty thought and deep emotion. The several parts of this poem and the movement of thought may be briefly indicated as follows: 1. Nature speaks a various language to those who love and commune with her (lines 1-8). 2. When sorrowful thoughts of death come to the soul, listen to Nature's teachings (8–17). 3. Her voice tells us that our forms will soon vanish from the earth (17-30). 4. Yet our restingplace is hallowed by the presence of the mighty, the wise, and the good, and decorated by the hills, woods, rivers and "Old ocean's gray and melancholy waste” (30-45). 5. The innumerable dead that reign in all parts of the earth (45-57). 6. The present and coming generations will all come to make their bed with us in the dust (57-72). 7. We should so live as to approach the grave with an unfaltering trust (72-81). 1. Explain "communion." What "visible forms" are meant? 2. Eloquence of beauty = a beauty capable of exciting deep emotion. 3. Explain "darker musings." Note the force of the word "glides." 4. In some editions we find "gentle" in place of "healing." Which is preferable? 5. What is the force of "steals" here, and why is it better than takes? 6. Give a synonym of "bitter," and explain "blight" in the same line. 7. Explain "stern." 8. That is, of the coffin in the "narrow house" or grave. 12. What is the meaning of "insensible"? Is there any difference between "insensible" and "sluggish" in the next line? 13. Explain "rude swain." 14. What is the etymology of "patriarchs," and who are meant here? 15. This statement is not strictly true; but when Bryant wrote, the nebular hypothesis was not so generally adopted, and geological science was yet in its infancy. As a matter of fact, the hills are a comparatively recent phenomenon in the history of our globe, and certainly much less ancient than the sun. 16. Explain "pensive quietness.” 17. Give the exact idea of "venerable." 18. Note the fine effect of these adjectives. Give a synonym of "melancholy." 19. What is meant by this phrase? 20. What is meant by "tribes"? 21. An adaptation of Ps. cxxxix. 9: "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea." 22. Other readings are: "Traverse Barca's desert sands," and "the Barcan desert pierce." Which is preferable? Barca is a country in northern Africa. 23. Another name for the Columbia River. 24. This statement is true of Barca, which at present has a population of a million, and contains ruins indicative of a flourishing era in the past; but its truth is not so obvious in the case of the Oregon. 25. Other readings are: "If thou withdraw Unheeded," and "If thou shalt fall Unnoticed." 26. Brood = progeny, offspring. Paraphrase this sentence. 27. What is a "phantom"? What are some of the "phantoms" men pursue? 28. Bryant also wrote "glides." Which is better? 29. For this line, the following is substituted in some editions: "The bowed with age, the infant in the smiles And beauty of its innocent age cut off," which is certainly more poetical. 30. Another reading is: "The pale realms of shade." Which do you prefer? TO A WATERFOWL For the circumstances of its composition, see the sketch of Bryant. "Once when the late Matthew Arnold, with his family, was visiting the ever-hospitable country home of Mr. Charles Butler, I happened to spend an evening there. In the course of it Mr. Arnold took up a volume of Mr. Bryant's poems from a table, and, turning to me, said, 'This is the American poet, facile princeps'; and after a pause he continued: 'When I first heard of him, Hartley Coleridge (I was but a lad at the time) came into my father's house one afternoon considerably excited, and exclaimed, "Matt, do you want to hear the best short poem in the English language?" "Faith, Hartley, I do," was my reply. He then read a poem "To a Waterfowl," in his best manner. And he was a good reader. As soon as he had done, he asked, "What do you think of that?" "I am not sure but you are right, Hartley; is that your father's?" was my reply. “No,” he rejoined; "father has written nothing like that." Some days after he might be heard muttering to himself, "The desert and illimitable air, Lone wandering, but not lost."" 1 Note the use of the generic term "waterfowl." Can you give a reason for this? What aquatic fowl is probably meant? Make an analysis of the poem so as to give the order of thought in the successive stanzas. Do not fail mentally to picture the scenes described. 1. Explain the phenomenon of "dew." Does all dew fall? At what time is the "waterfowl" seen by the poet? 2. Explain “glow." What figure of speech is used with “day”? 3. Does the "waterfowl" in question usually migrate alone? do the flocks generally assume in their migrations? What form 4. Why should the poet think of a “fowler" as he watches the waterfowl? 5. Why use the word "floats" here? 6. Explain "plashy.” 7. What word would the poet have used in prose? 8. Explain "chafed." All the waters mentioned in this stanza are visited by the wild goose, with the habits of which the poet was evidently acquainted. 9. Coast region an unusual meaning. = 10. These birds usually fly at a great height. It is only when confused or lost that they fly near the earth. 11. Abyss = immeasurable space. From Greek a privative, and bussos, depth, bottom. Etymologically, a bottomless depth. 12. Here we have another illustration of Bryant's ethical habit of mind. The following stanza contains the lesson learned. A FOREST HYMN In this poem Bryant's deep religious nature is clearly apparent. 1. Explain "shaft" and "architrave." See illustrations in a good dictionary. 2. Vault = arched roof or ceiling. In the great cathedrals of Europe the arched ceiling is often very lofty. 3. As poured forth from the great cathedral organs and large choirs. 4. Darkling dusky, gloomy. "The pres. part. of a supposed verb darkle, diminutive from dark." = WEBSTER. 5. In some editions we find "amidst." 6. Give a synonym for "solemn." "Amid" is used mostly in poetry. 1 Bigelow, William Cullen Bryant, p. 43. 7. Might not was not able. A. S. magan, to be able. 8. What is the subject of "stole"? From what three separate objects came the "sacred influences"? 9. Explain "riper years." 10. What is the etymological force of sanctuary? II. Bryant had in mind Gen. i. 10, 11. 12. Explain "shrine." Why does Bryant say "humble worshipper”? 13. Report = tell. 14. Fantastic = existing only in imagination; hence, unlike anything in nature. Such ornamentation can hardly be justified on any correct principles of architecture. According to Ruskin, ornamentation should in some degree express or adopt the beauty of natural objects. "All noble ornament is the expression of man's delight in God's work." moved, animated. Lat. instinguere, to instigate, incite. = 17. To what does "he" refer? 18. These were the anchorets or hermits of the early centuries of the Christian era. "They lived in caves, avoided all intercourse with their fellowmen, abstained as much as possible from food, spoke no word, but prayed in silence."-Schaff-Herzog Encyclopædia. 19. Express "the swift dark whirlwind" in a single word. TO THE FRINGED GENTIAN This poem is justly admired for its delicate feeling. The poet's love of nature, exhibited in the various fine descriptions of "Thanatopsis," and ". "A Forest Hymn," is here centred in a little flower. His acquaintance with the appearance and habits of the several flowers mentioned indicates his attentive observation. 1. Gentiana crinita, or Blue Fringed Gentian, found in cool, low grounds from Canada to Carolina. The stem is about a foot high, and the flowers are sky-blue. It blooms in autumn. 2. Aquilegia Vulgaris, or common Columbine. It blooms in June, with large purple flowers. Another common species, Aquilegia Canadensis, has scarlet flowers. THE DEATH OF THE FLOWERS This poem was written in memory of the poet's sister, the beloved companion of his earlier years. See the sketch of Bryant. "No one is to be envied," says a biographer, "who can read the closing stanzas to-day without emotion." What characteristics of the poet are exemplified in this piece? This poem, as well as the following one, "The Evening Wind," will repay careful study. X SELECTIONS FROM POE THE RAVEN ONCE upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, " 1 Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,2 And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain 3 Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, - Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, |