the death of Little Nell (Old Curiosity Shop).

3. _Dickens as a Humanitarian_--Little Dorrit and prison reform. Bleak
House and the law's delay. Nicholas Nickleby and poor schools. Oliver
Twist and youthful criminals.

4. _His Greatest Novel: David Copperfield_--Discuss the plot and the
chief characters. Notice the individuality of the women: Mrs.
Copperfield, Miss Murdstone, Betsy Trotwood, Peggotty, Little Emily,
Dora, and Agnes.

BOOKS TO CONSULT--Forster: Life of Dickens. Letters of Charles Dickens.
G. K. Chesterton: Charles Dickens. Gissing: Charles Dickens.

A paper comparing Dickens and Thackeray may be added to this program,
for Dombey and Son, Dickens's sixth successful novel, appeared the same
year as Vanity Fair, Thackeray's first. There might be a paper on The
Names of Dickens's Characters, and Where He Got Them.

VI--TROLLOPE

1. _His Life_--Son of the novelist Frances M. Trollope. Unhappy life at
Winchester and Harrow. In the postal service. (See The Three Clerks for
the examination of Charley Tudor--Trollope's own experience.)
Post-office surveys in Ireland. Travels on post-office business.
Material thus gathered. His forty novels. First good novel, The Warden.
The idea of it suggested while wandering about Salisbury Cathedral.
Popularity and large earnings.

2. _The Barsetshire Novels_--Deal with upper middle class, especially
clergymen and their families. Pictures of quiet country life. Realism.
Evenness of tone. Favorite situation: the man who has compromised
himself and is in danger of ruin. Description of the leading characters
in these novels.

3. _Four Novels_--Give brief sketch of plot and description of the chief
characters in Orley Farm, Phineas Finn, The Vicar of Bullhampton, and
Can You Forgive Her? Readings from these books.

4. _A Comparison of Trollope with Dickens and Thackeray_--Their
materials, plots, methods of treatment, and diverse styles. Their
relative popularity and standing to-day. Influence of Thackeray on
Trollope.

BOOKS TO CONSULT--Anthony Trollope: Autobiography. Cross: The
Development of the English Novel. Saintsbury: English Literature of the
Nineteenth Century.

One of the famous women in the books of this decade is Mrs. Proudie, the
wife of the Bishop of Barchester. Read a description of her, her
methods of management, and the retribution which overtook her. The Rev.
Mr. Slope is also a well-known character in connection with the
Proudies.

VII--BULW