Dryden.--From his lyrical verse, read _Alexander's Feast_ or _A Song for St. Cecilia's Day_. The opening lines of _Religio Laici_ or of _The Hind and the Panther_ will serve as a specimen of his argumentative or didactic verse and _Absalom and Achitophel_ for his satire. (Cassell's _National Library_, 15 cents.) Selections are given in Ward,[4] II., 454-483; Bronson, III., 20-58; Manly, I., 203-209; _Oxford Treasury_, III., 99-110; _Century_, 266-285. For his critical prose, read _An Essay of Dramatic Poesy_ (Strunk's edition of _Dryden's Essays on the Drama_). For selections see Craik, III., 148-154; Manly, II., 146-163; _Century_, 276-285. What is the chief subject matter of Dryden's verse? Point out typical qualities in his argumentative and satiric verse. Give definite instances of his power in argument and satire. Why is his prose called modern? Point out some of its qualities. Defoe.--Read or reread _Robinson Crusoe_ and point out where he specially shows the skill of the journalist in the presentation of his facts. Can you select passages that show the justice of the criticism? How would the interest in the story have been affected, had Defoe, like the author of _Swiss Family Robinson_, caused the shipwreck to occur on an island where tropical fruits would have rendered unnecessary Crusoe's labor to secure food? Swift.--Caik's _English Prose Selections_, Vol. III., pp. 391-424, contains representative selections from Swift's prose. The best of these are _The Philosophy of Clothes_, from _A Tale of a Tub_ (Craik, III., 398); _A Digression concerning Critics_, from the same (Craik, III., 400); _The Emperor of Lilliput_ (Craik, III., 417) and _The King of Brobdingnag_ (Craik, III., 419), from _Gulliver's Travels_. Selections may be found also in Manly, II., 184-198; _Oxford Treasury_, III., 125-129; _Century_, 299-323. Is Swift's a good prose style? Does he use ornament? Can you find a passage where he strives after effect? In what respects do the subjects which he chooses and his manner of treating them show the spirit of the age? Why is _Gulliver's Travels_ so popular? What are the most important lessons which a young writer may learn from Swift? In what is he specially lacking? Addison and Steele.--From the _Sir Roger de Coverley Papers_ the student should not fail to read _Spectator No. 112, A Country Sunday_. He may then read _Spectator No. 2_, by Steele, which sketches the De Coverley characters, and compare the style and characteristics of the two authors. The student who has the time at this point should read all the _De Coverley Papers_ (_Eclectic English Classics_, American Book Company). Good selections from both Addison and Steele may be found in Craik, III., 469-535; Manly, II., 198-216; _Century_, 324-349. In what did Addison and Steele excel? What qualities draw so many readers to the _De Coverley Papers_? Why may they be called a prelude to the modern novel?