this respect with one of your own narratives in the first person.

Point out, if you can, some ways in which the author has made her
dialogues smooth and natural. Compare with one of your own.

STYLE.--Note a few of the most humorous passages; of the most pathetic.
In the humorous passages is the author laughing _at_ her characters, or
laughing _with_ them? Compare in this respect her treatment of Mrs.
Jamieson, Miss Barker, and Miss Pole with Scott's treatment of Prior
Aymer, Friar Tuck, and Athelstane.

THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR.--What facts do we know of Mrs.
Gaskell's girlhood? her education? her married life? her great sorrow?
her first literary success? her acquaintance with the literary men of
her day? the regard of her neighbors for her?

COMPARISON.--Does the value of this book lie in its setting? in its
plot? in its characters? in its style? in its teaching? or in all of
these factors?

Compare _Cranford_ in respect to each of the above topics with the other
novels that you have studied.

OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF SILAS MARNER

I. Preparation

A few facts about George Eliot's early life will help to show how she
could write as she did about country people--their ideas, habits, and
manner of life.

II. Reading and Study

A rapid reading, followed by a second and more careful one, is quite
practicable with so short and interesting a story as _Silas Marner_. It
is especially to be recommended for this book, since the chapters are so
full of suggestions of character, of customs of a by-gone time, and of
hints for the further development of the story, that it is difficult for
a young reader, urged on by his interest in the plot, to stop long
enough to grasp all the essential features. So many important lessons
for the beginner may be drawn from the structure of this book, from its
teaching, and from its representation of life, that it especially repays
thorough study.

III. Study of the Book as a Whole

SETTING AND SITUATION.--What means does the author take in Chapters I
and III to acquaint us with the time of the story? How definitely can
you fix it? (See p. 47, l. 22.)

What sort of place was Lantern Yard? Describe the people who worshiped
there. What was their social life? Why was their church called a chapel?

Compare this place, where Silas first lived, with Raveloe in respect to
location, people, religious beliefs, wealth, social life, etc.

Although Raveloe is not on the