e latter is not a romance, but a novel
of life and manners; not an exciting story of heroic deeds and wonderful
escapes, but a story that paints clear pictures of simple life, quiet
humor, and true sentiment. A few facts of Goldsmith's boyhood and young
manhood should be dwelt on in order to show his familiarity with the
country, the church, and with other matters treated in the story. Other
topics of interest are the circumstances that led to the publication of
the book; the comparative newness of the novel in literature; eighteenth
century essays, like the _De Coverley Papers_; similarity between such
essays and this novel.

II. Reading and Study

To become familiar with the details of this story is simple, but
students are likely to overlook little references to the customs and
manners of the time, and to fail to use their imaginations in picturing
the beautiful but simple scenes of country life.

III. Study of the Book as a Whole

SETTING AND SITUATION.--Find five or six references in the story that
throw light on the time when the events are supposed to have taken
place. (See customs of travel in Chapter III, of dress in IV and XII
and of the punishment of criminals in XXX and XXXI.) Draw as definite a
conclusion as you can from these references, and be prepared to defend
it.

Where is Wakefield? Do we know whether the places described are English
or French or Irish? Give reasons.

Could the scene have been laid in some other country or some other
century without radically changing the story? What alterations would be
necessary?

What do we learn from this book about customs in dress? means of
travelling? education? other customs?

PLOT.--How long a time is involved from the beginning to the end of the
story?

At what point did you discover the identity of Mr. Burchell? Could you
have discovered it earlier if you had read more closely?

Are there frequent surprises, or do events occur as we expect them to?

Are all the events probable? Has the author succeeded in making them
seem probable?

Is the plot simple or complex? How many chapters are used to introduce
the story? What is the climax?

Is there, as in _Ivanhoe_, a series of scenes closely connected? Are
there incidents that might have been omitted as superfluous? If so,
would the story have been more, or less, interesting without them?

How far does Mr. Burchell influence events? How far does Mr. Jenkinson
influence them? Squire Thornhi