Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Literature Part 29

What does it show Scrooge? Scenes of Christmas shopping; Christmas out-of-doors; the Grocers; Bob Cratchit's family, the goose, their dinner, the puddings; the miner's home; the lighthouse keepers; the sailors; Scrooge's nephew at home--blindman's bluff, forfeits, Yes and No; vision of "Ignorance" and "Want".

What do all these scenes go to show? How different kinds of people keep Christmas; how kind and merry most people are at this season of the year: and how some have to struggle in order to get this one day's pleasure.

Select some examples of humour. Peter's conceit, some of the descriptions of the grocery stores, the antic.i.p.ations lest harm befall the goose and the pudding.

Select any examples of pathos. The references to Tiny Tim.

Select and read the best descriptions. The grocery stores, the fruit stores, the goose, the pudding.

Stave IV

What is told in this chapter? The visit of the third spirit.

What was it? The "Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come".

What does it show Scrooge? A vision of his death--how he is plundered by laundress, charwoman, and undertaker; the phantom of Death; Scrooge's creditors; the grave.

Had these scenes actually taken place? No, but they will be realized if Scrooge does not change his manner of thinking and living.

What is the effect of these three visions?

Scrooge promises the "Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come" "I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year".

Why are the scenes in this chapter not so pleasant as those that the two former spirits had shown him? The scenes that the first spirit had brought before him were his joys at the Christmas season before he had hardened his heart; those that the second spirit had shown were scenes in the lives of people who do something for others and enjoy themselves in the true Christmas spirit; those that the last spirit had shown were the sordid scenes which would be sure to come if he did not change his att.i.tude toward life. The last scenes shown him by the third spirit furnish a strong contrast to the others.

Stave V

What does this chapter relate? How Scrooge actually kept Christmas Day.

What were the other chapters about? The first and the last were the only chapters where he was awake. Chapters Two, Three, and Four are visions or dreams. Notice how the phantom changed into the bed-post.

This chapter should be studied closely. Who wrote this story? Charles d.i.c.kens, an English novelist.

Do you know any other good stories by the same author? _David Copperfield_, _The Pickwick Papers_, _Nicholas Nickleby_.

Yes, we have had extracts in the Readers from these books.

What lessons are they? _The Pickwick Club on the Ice_, in the _Third Book_; _David Copperfield's First Journey Alone_, and _The Indignation of Nicholas Nickleby_ in the _Fourth Book_.

Some day you must read these stories. _David Copperfield_ tells us a great deal about d.i.c.kens' early days. _The Pickwick Papers_ is full of humour in scenes such as that depicted in _The Pickwick Club on the Ice_, and has some fine characters in it, and _Nicholas Nickleby_ gives a vivid picture of the brutality existing in some schools in England at the time the book was written.

THE LADY OF THE LAKE

(Fourth Reader, page 270)

The pupils will have read the account of the stirring combat between Fitz-James and Roderick Dhu. They will be curious to know the circ.u.mstances that led up to this combat and also the conclusion of the story.

The aim of the teacher is to lead the pupils to appreciate the construction of the story, the fine character sketches, and the descriptions of natural scenery, as well as to give them an impression of Highland life. The pupils will take delight in the rapid movement of the verse and in the deeds of valour.

Some pa.s.sages should be dwelt upon at greater length by the teacher, and others more lightly touched upon, so that the connections of the various parts will be understood. A close and tedious consideration of all the lines would not show a good critical taste, as some pa.s.sages are very fine, while others have only ordinary merit.

The teacher should disclose the ident.i.ty of Fitz-James as James V of Scotland and should explain the cause of the exile of the Douglas Family. He should also sketch the life of rebellion and consequent outlawry led by some of the Highland clans before they were reduced to submission.

CANTO I

The teacher should study with the pupils the Invocation of the three opening stanzas and ask them to read the first canto. He should next discuss it briefly, as suggested in the following outline:

What are the main divisions of the first canto?

1. The chase 2. Description of the Trossachs 3. Description of Ellen Douglas 4. Description of Fitz-James.

Why is the story of the chase introduced? It brings Fitz-James alone into the enemy's country, where he meets Ellen Douglas, and prepares the way for the adventures that follow.

What is the story of the chase? The hundred huntsmen and the horses and the dogs become wearied in the long pursuit after the stag. One huntsman alone is left to enter the deep ravine where the stag escapes.

This description of the Trossachs made the spot famous, and ever since it has been a favourite resort of tourists.

CANTO II

The Island

What are the divisions of this canto?

1. The departure of the huntsmen 2. Description of the minstrel 3. The story of Roderick's love 4. Return of the Clan-Alpine 5. Malcolm Graeme 6. The quarrel.

What is the value of this canto? It explains many facts that we did not understand. Among others, it shows us the relation of the Douglases to the King and to Roderick Dhu. It tells of the love of Malcolm Graeme for Ellen and of Roderick's hopeless love for her. It shows us Roderick's n.o.ble traits of character and the fearful cruelties of which he is capable. He cannot possibly win Ellen's love.

CANTO III

The Gathering

What are the main divisions of this canto?

1. Roderick's determination to renew hostilities 2. Brian the Hermit 3. The ceremony 4. The message of the Fiery Cross 5. Roderick's devotion to Ellen 6. The gathering.

What are the best pa.s.sages in this canto?

1. Description of Loch Katrine 2. The coronach 3. Hymn to the Virgin.

Why are funeral and wedding scenes introduced?

These serve to show how the message of the Fiery Cross was looked upon as more important than even death or marriage.

What insight into the life of the clansmen is furnished in this canto?

1. The superst.i.tion of the Highlanders. This is shown in Brian's faith and in the weird ceremonies in connection with the Fiery Cross.

2. The method of mustering the clans by means of the message of the Fiery Cross.

3. Their funerals and weddings.