ells in his life of Scott[1] (p. 266), of
how tired soldiers were aroused by a recital of _The Battle of Beal an
Duine_.

4. A short account of the Scottish lake region, with map.

5. A very few facts concerning James V and the Douglas family.

II. A Rapid Reading

This is for the purpose of getting the main facts of the story. It may
be done partly by the teacher[2] and partly by the class out of school.
A short time in every recitation period should be taken for a running
fire of questions to make sure that the class understand the plot. The
questions ought to be simple matters of fact which a first reading
should reveal.

III. A Careful Reading

The class should now be ready to enjoy a second reading with whatever
study of words, figures of speech, meter, etc., is necessary together
with the memorizing of a considerable amount. The following questions
are intended to suggest the kind of work that ought to be done with
young pupils:

1. Canto I, line 47. Explain "tainted gale."

2. " " " 54-63. To which of the senses
does Scott appeal?

3. " " " 54-63. Point out the words that
are most effective.

4. " " " 69. What is the hurricane?

5. " " " 114-130. To what sense does Scott
appeal?

6. " " " 114-130. How does he appeal here
to our sympathy?

7. " " " 131-151. How does he make the
escape of the stag a
surprise?

It is easy to select many good narrative and descriptive topics for oral
and written composition, and here, as always, frequent writing is an aid
to the understanding of the work of literature under discussion, as well
as to the enlargement of the power of expression.

The study of meter ought to offer little difficulty if only a simple,
practical knowledge is required, and yet a large number of pupils find
it confusing. It may never have occurred to some of them that the great
difference in form between prose and poetry is that in the one case the
arrangement of accented and unaccented syllables is irregular, and in
the other regular. If they are directed to mark a few passages after
some definite form, as they will easily learn the normal line. They will
learn, too, that there are a few common variations. Having learned
these, and the names of different fee