ESSAYS.  Emerson’s Books, in Society and Solitude; Dowden’s The Interpretation of Literature, in Transcripts and Studies (Kegan Paul & Co.), and The Teaching of English Literature, in New Studies in Literature (Houghton, Mifflin); The Study of Literature, Essays by Morley, Nicolls, and L. Stephen, edited by A.F.  Blaisdell (Willard Small).

CRITICISM.  Gayley and Scott’s An Introduction to the Methods and Materials of Literary Criticism (Ginn and Company); Winchester’s Principles of Literary Criticism (Macmillan); Worsfold’s Principles of Criticism (Longmans); Johnson’s Elements of Literary Criticism (American Book Company); Saintsbury’s History of Criticism (Dodd, Mead).

POETRY.  Gummere’s Handbook of Poetics (Ginn and Company); Stedman’s The Nature and Elements of Poetry (Houghton, Mifflin); Johnson’s The Forms of English Poetry (American Book Company); Alden’s Specimens of English Verse (Holt); Gummere’s The Beginnings of Poetry (Macmillan); Saintsbury’s History of English Prosody (Macmillan).

THE DRAMA.  Caffin’s Appreciation of the Drama (Baker & Taylor Co.).

THE NOVEL.  Raleigh’s The English Novel (Scribner); Hamilton’s The Materials and Methods of Fiction (Baker & Taylor Co.).

* * * * *

CHAPTER II

THE ANGLO-SAXON OR OLD-ENGLISH PERIOD (450-1050)

I. OUR FIRST POETRY

BEOWULF.  Here is the story of Beowulf, the earliest and the greatest epic, or heroic poem, in our literature.  It begins with a prologue, which is not an essential part of the story, but which we review gladly for the sake of the splendid poetical conception that produced Scyld, king of the Spear Danes.[2]

At a time when the Spear Danes were without a king, a ship came sailing into their harbor.  It was filled with treasures and weapons of war; and in the midst of these warlike things was a baby sleeping.  No man sailed the ship; it came of itself, bringing the child, whose name was Scyld.

Now Scyld grew and became a mighty warrior, and led the Spear Danes for many years, and was their king.  When his son Beowulf[3] had become strong and wise enough to rule, then Wyrd (Fate), who speaks but once to any man, came and stood at hand; and it was time for Scyld to go.  This is how they buried him: 

    Then Scyld departed, at word of Wyrd spoken,
    The hero to go to the home of the gods. 
    Sadly they bore him to brink of the ocean,
    Comrades, still heeding his word of command. 
    There rode in the harbor the prince’s ship, ready,
    With prow curving proudly and shining sails set. 
    Shipward they bore him, their hero beloved;
    The mighty they laid at the foot of the mast. 
    Treasures were there from far and near gathered,
    Byrnies of battle, armor and