Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Literature Part 24

2. The sound of the enemy's cannon

3. The Duke of Brunswick

4. The farewells

5. The muster

6. The gathering of the Highlanders

7. The march to battle

8. Summary of pictures and the result.

Do you see any stanza that interferes with the progress of the action?

The third stanza antic.i.p.ates the battle and destroys the continuity between the sounds of the approaching enemy and the hurried farewells.

Why does the poet devote a special stanza to the Highlanders? Were they more worthy of mention than the English and Irish regiments? The author, George Gordon, Lord Byron, belonged to a Scotch family. The muster of the Highlanders at midnight, combined with their stirring music, made a very picturesque incident.

Consider the elements which contribute to the various scenes:

Stanza I

What is described? The ball given by the d.u.c.h.ess of Richmond. What is the emotion of this stanza? Pleasure, gaiety. What is the picture in the first line? The arrival of the guests, the welcomes, and the "revelry" of the a.s.sembly. Why does the author say "Belgium's capital" rather than "Brussels"? It suggests the capital of a nation with a n.o.ble people.

Who were the "Beauty" and the "Chivalry"? The ladies, the officers of the army, and the n.o.bility. Describe the picture you see in "bright the lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men". The large ball-room, the brilliantly lighted chandeliers, the beautiful costumes of the ladies, the uniforms and decorations of officers and n.o.bles. Describe the images that are suggested by "and when music arose with its voluptuous swell". The bands of the regiments are playing the music of the dance. Notice how the poet changes the rhythm to the foot of three syllables, to indicate the music of the waltz. What contrast do you find in the last two lines? "Marriage bell" and "rising knell". What was the purpose of this? To show the contrast between pleasure and fear.

Stanza II

What is the theme? The sound of the enemy's cannon. Why does the author use the dramatic form? A conversation between two people of opposite temperaments gives greater reality to the picture. The first seems to expect danger, but is, for a moment, silenced by the other's upbraiding him for attempting to spoil the pleasure of the evening. A repet.i.tion of the "heavy sound" proves that he is right. The second is a lover of pleasure, who would not have the first speaker alarm the guests by his gloomy antic.i.p.ations. Show how the second speaker indicates his impatience. His answers are short, he speaks in ellipses. "On with the dance", and "No sleep till morn". Notice the positive tone of the first speaker in the repet.i.tion, "It is--it is".

Stanza III

What is described here? The fate of Brunswick?

Why does the author single out Brunswick from all the others who died? One specific case appeals to the reader more effectually than the report of the death of unknown thousands.

Brunswick's father had been a noted general in the war with Napoleon. Explain, "Death's prophetic ear". This refers to a common superst.i.tion that "the veil of the future is lifted to those near to death". Show how the poet has broken the order of succession of the pictures. Brunswick's death is recorded before the breaking up of the ball is described.

Stanza IV

What is the theme? The farewells. What is the emotion? Fear and anguish. What words show this? "Gathering tears", "tremblings of distress", "cheeks all pale", "sudden partings", etc. Give a line in a preceding stanza that expresses the same thought as "mutual eyes". "Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again."

Stanza V

What is described? The muster of the troops.

What is the prevailing feeling? The haste of the soldiers and the terror of the citizens.

How does the poet show this haste? By the use of such phrases as "hot haste", "mustering squadron", "clattering car", "impetuous speed", "swiftly forming", as well as by the rapid movement of the verse. Why did the citizens of Brussels fear, since they had not to fight?

They dreaded the pillage and ruin which would follow a French victory. Describe the scene in your own words--the cavalry forming in line, the movements of the artillery, the noise of distant cannon, the "alarming drum", and the panic of the citizens.

Stanza VI

The gathering of the Highlanders. Does the poet address the ear or the eye in this description?

Only the sound of the bagpipes is described, though it may suggest a picture of the Highland regiments. What words describe the music? "Wild and high", "war-note", "thrills savage and shrill". Why does the poet mention proper names--"Lochiel", "Evan", "Donald"? The bagpipes recall stirring memories of these men, which inspire the clansmen to prove worthy of their ancestors. What is the "Cameron's gathering"? The war-song of the Cameron clan.

Were there only Camerons in the Highland regiments? No, the Camerons were only one famous clan, but are taken here as representative of the heroism of all the Highlanders. Again, the use of individual specific cases produces a greater impression than a more general term. What was the "pibroch"? A wild, irregular species of music played on the bagpipes, adapted particularly to rouse a martial spirit among troops going to battle.

Stanza VII

What is described in this stanza? The march to the battle-field. What words show that? "As they pa.s.s". They were going through the forest of "Ardennes". What is the mood of this stanza?

Sadness. The trees are represented as shedding tears when "Nature" thinks of the sad fate awaiting so many brave men. What were those tears? The expression refers to the dew of the early morning on the leaves of the trees, but the poet has called it "Nature's tear-drops".

It is only a fanciful presentation of a natural phenomenon. Explain, "if aught inanimate e'er grieves". If inanimate nature, such as trees or gra.s.s, can express sorrow. Nature cannot grieve, but we appreciate the beauty of the imagery. Point out a contrast in this stanza.

"This fiery ma.s.s of living valour", and "shall moulder cold and low".

Stanza VIII

What is the purpose of this stanza? It gives a summary of the preceding ones. Which stanza corresponds to line 2? Stanza I. Which corresponds to line 3? Stanzas II, III, and IV.

Which stanzas picture the "marshalling in arms"? Stanzas V and VI. What stanzas picture "Battle's magnificently stern array"? Stanzas V and VII. Now contrast all these pictures with the last. The story is epitomized, and the end described--"friend, foe,--in one red burial blent!"

The pupils should now read the poem, in order that the teacher may judge by the varying tones and movements whether it has been properly appreciated.

THREE SCENES IN THE TYROL

(Fourth Reader, page 336)

AIM

To lead the pupils to appreciate the thrilling pictures and to understand the means by which the author has produced this vividness.

PREPARATION

The pupils have been required to read this lesson at their seats or at home.

Where is the Tyrol situated? It is a province in the Austrian Alps directly east of Switzerland. (Show its position on the map.)

The mountains are majestic, high, precipitous; the people daring and independent. The Tyrol is noted for the many accidents which happen to mountain-climbers. Who are the chief persons concerned in these three scenes? Maximilian I, Charles V, and Napoleon.

The author wishes to give, amid the most impressive surroundings, three stirring events in the lives of three great Emperors. State briefly the first story. The Emperor Maximilian was hunting a chamois, when he slipped on the edge of the precipice, rolled helplessly over, and caught a jutting ledge of rock, which interrupted his descent. An outlaw hastened to his a.s.sistance and guided him to safety.

PRESENTATION

I

Yes, this story is often called "The Rescue".

Let us note how the author helps us to see the picture. Where does he place the spectator? On a "thread-like road" running between the rocky bank of the Inn River and the foot of the precipice of the Solstein.

What does the author ask you, as the imaginary spectator, to do? To throw your head back and look upward.