Transcriber's Notes: Words in italics in the original are surrounded by _underscores_. A row of asterisks represents a thought break. Ellipses match the original. A complete list of corrections as well as other notes follows the text. TALKS ON TEACHING LITERATURE BY ARLO BATES [Illustration: Riverside Press colophon] BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY The Riverside Press, Cambridge 1906 COPYRIGHT 1906 BY ARLO BATES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED _Published October 1906_ These Talks are founded upon lectures delivered before the Summer School of the University of Illinois in June, 1905. The interest which was shown in the subject and in the views expressed encouraged me to state rather more elaborately and in book form what I felt in regard to a matter which is certainly of great importance, and concerning which so many teachers are in doubt. I wish here to express my obligation to Assistant-Professor Henry G. Pearson, who has very kindly gone over the manuscript, and to whom I am indebted for suggestions of great value. CONTENTS I. THE PROBLEM 1 II. THE CONDITIONS 11 III. SOME DIFFICULTIES 28 IV. OTHER OBSTACLES 39 V. FOUNDATIONS OF WORK 61 VI. PRELIMINARY WORK 74 VII. THE INSPIRATIONAL USE OF LITERATURE 88 VIII. AN ILLUSTRATION 96 IX. EDUCATIONAL 109 X. EXAMINATIONAL 121 XI. THE STUDY OF PROSE 136 XII. THE STUDY OF THE NOVEL 152 XIII. THE STUDY OF _MACBETH_ 165 XIV. CRITICISM 193 XV. LITERARY WORKMANSHIP 207 XVI. LITERARY BIOGRAPHY 222 XVII. VOLUNTARY READING 227 XVIII. IN GENERAL 237 INDEX 245 TALKS ON TEACHING LITERATURE I THE PROBLEM