hould be the character of this
description? What is its place? What is meant by plot? What is
presupposed in a skillful plot? What great writers are lacking in
dramatic power? What purposes may be aimed at? Why should the purpose be
apprehended? About what have thoughtful persons convictions? What is the
effect of these convictions? Why should the writer's aim or purpose be
understood?

73. How may novels and romances be divided? What are _novels of life_?
_novels of idea_? What seven classes are distinguished? What is a
_society novel_? What may it portray? What are _local novels_? What is
said of them in America? Mention some well-known local novels. What is a
_historical novel_? On what should it be based? What is said of
historical fiction? Who is the greatest of historical novelists? Mention
some others. What is said of recent tendencies? Mention some recent
historical novels. What is meant by _problem_ or _purpose novels_?
Illustrate by various examples. What is the nature of the _love story_?
of the _story of adventure_? Illustrate. What is _naval fiction_? Why
are sea novelists not numerous? What is said of Cooper? Who is the chief
of marine novelists? With what is the _psychologic novel_ principally
concerned? Give examples. What gives George Eliot's novels their depth?
What is said of the short story? To what laws is it subject?

NOTE

As illustrative and practical exercises, let the student criticise
several pieces of fiction assigned by the teacher. For this purpose any
of the standard or popular works mentioned in the text may be selected,
or any others to which the student may have access.

After classifying the work and determining its style, the student should
investigate it according to its six component elements,--characters,
incidents, environment, plot, purpose, and views of life. The points to
be investigated under each head are suggested in the text.

As points of special interest, he may inquire into the origin of the
work and the sources from which its materials were derived. This
investigation will frequently reveal, as in the case of Thackeray,
Charlotte Bronte, Dickens, and George Eliot, interesting autobiographic
details.

The results of this investigation may be presented in a written
critique, in which the value of the work as a whole, in the light of
correct aesthetic and critical principles, should be determined. It will
sometimes be found that novels of wide popularity are desti