De Quincey.—­Read Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow (Craik, V., 264-270).  The first chapters of The Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (Everyman’s Library; Temple Classics; Century, 683-690; Manly, II., 357-366) are entertaining and will repay reading.

Does his prose show any influence of a romantic and poetic age?  Compare his style with that of Addison, Gibbon, and Burke.  In what respects does De Quincey succeed, and in what does he fail, as a model for a young writer?

Lamb.—­From the Essays of Elia (Cassell’s National Library; Everyman’s Library, Temple Classics) read any two of these essays:  A Dissertation upon Roast Pig, Old China, Dream Children, New Year’s Eve, Poor Relations.  For selections, see Craik, V., 116-126; Century, 575-578; Manly, II., 337-345.

In what does Lamb’s chief charm consist?  Point out resemblances and differences between his Essays and Addison’s.

Landor, Hazlitt, and Hunt.—­Good selections are given in Craik, V.; Chambers, III.; Manly, II.  Inexpensive editions of Landor’s Imaginary Conversations and Pericles and Aspasia may be found in the Camelot Series.  Hazlitt’s Characters of Shakespeare’s Plays, Lectures on the English Poets, Lectures on the English Comic Writers, and Table Talk are published in Everyman’s Library.  The Camelot Series and the Temple Classics also contain some of Hazlitt’s works.  A selection from Leigh Hunt’s Essays is published in the Camelot Series.

What are the main characteristics of Landor’s style?  Select a passage which justifies the criticism:  “He writes in marble.”  Give some striking thoughts from his Imaginary Conversations.  Compare his style and subject matter with Hazlitt’s.  Show that Hazlitt has the power of presenting in an impressive way the chief characteristics of authors.  Select some pleasing passages from Leigh Hunt’s Essays.  Compare him with Addison and Lamb.

FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER VIII: 

[Footnote 1:  Prelude, Book XI.]

[Footnote 2:  gold.]

[Footnote 3:  For a’ That and a’ That.]

[Footnote 4:  Song at the Feast of Brougham Castle.]

[Footnote 5:  Hart-Leap Well.]

[Footnote 6:  Intimations of Immortality.]

[Footnote 7:  Wordsworth’s Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey.]

[Footnote 8:  Retirement.]

[Footnote 9:  Conversation.]

[Footnote 10:  I Love My Jean.]

[Footnote 11:  remedy.]

[Footnote 12:  Epistle to John Lapraik.]

[Footnote 13:  The Vision.]

[Footnote 14:  Sonnet:  “The world is too much with us.”]

[Footnote 15:  Hart Leap Well.]