actly
failures; they are more like composite photographs. His portraiture of
men is supreme. In fact, there is no such thing in the whole of Gogol's
work as a heroine, properly speaking, who plays a first-class part, or
who is analyzed in modern fashion. The day was not come for that as yet.

"Taras Bulba," his great historical novel, offers a vivid picture of the
famous kazak republic on the Dniepr, and equally with his other volumes,
it stands in the first rank for its poetry, its dramatic force, its
truth to life. It alone may be said to have a passionate love story.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What special gift as a writer had Yazykoff?

2. Give the chief events in the career of Griboyedoff.

3. What was the character of Russian social life at this time?

4. What was the plot of "Woe from Wit"?

5. Describe the influence of Lermontoff.

6. What is the story of his famous "Ballad of the Tzar, the
Lifeguardsman, and the Merchant"? Supply full title.

7. What was Schelling's philosophy, and how did it affect
Russian thinkers?

8. What important influence had Byelinsky?

9. What marked powers of description had Aksakoff?

10. How does Koltzoff's life illustrate the widening influence
of Russian literature?

11. How did the change from poetry to prose writing come about?

12. Give an account of the chief events in the life of Gogol.

13. How was the Russian tendency to mysticism illustrated in
his case?

14. Describe his famous play "The Inspector." What qualities
does he show in this?

15. What are the characteristics of his "Tales"?

16. Why is "Dead Souls" regarded as his greatest work?

17. What is the character of "Taras Bulba"?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

_A Hero of To-Day._ M. Y. Lermontoff. (Several translations.)

Works of Gogol: _The Inspector._ (Translated by Arthur Sykes.)
_Taras Bulba._ (Translated by I. F. Hapgood.)

_Dead Souls, St. John's Eve, and Other Stories._ (Selections
from the two volumes of _Little Russian and St. Petersburg
Tales_. Translated by I. F. Hapgood.)

FOOTNOTES:

[13] Rubinstein used this as a foundation for the libretto of his
delightful opera, with the same title.

[14] Rubinstein used this as the libretto foundation for his opera of
the same title, which was produced once, prohibited by the censor,
produced once again aft