How do the cases brought before Arthur, and his disposition of them, show the character of his rule? How clear an idea do you get of the country between Camelot and Castle Perilous? of Castle Perilous? Of what importance are these descriptions? PLOT.--How does Tennyson introduce the story? How is Gareth prepared for his work as a knight? Give the chain of incidents that lead from Gareth's leaving home to his victory at Castle Perilous. How do the several contests compare with one another in difficulty? Is there unity in the plot? Is it more consistent with the story as Tennyson tells it to have Gareth marry Lyonors, as Malory says? Why? CHARACTERS.--How is the character of Gareth made clear to us at the outset? How, if at all, is his character developed by his service as a scullion? In what respects does he show himself different from the other scullions? Would you have respected him any more if he had resented the taunts of Kay and the insults of Lynette? Why? What impression of Lynette do you form from her interview with the king? In her language is she coarse and rude, or only petulant and thoughtless? After she is won by Gareth does she show any fineness of nature? Describe the characters of Lot, Bellicent, Gawain, and Modred. INTERPRETATION.--What period of a man's life may Gareth be intended to typify? What is the allegorical meaning of the gateway to the city of Camelot and of Merlin's description of the building of the city? In Gareth's contests with the four knights for the possession of Lyonors' castle, what does each in turn typify? What does the poet mean by making the first three contests increasingly difficult? by the terror which the fourth knight inspires? by the easy victory over him? What does Lynette represent in her impulsive and persistent opposition to Gareth? What does Gareth represent in his constant devotion to high ideals? What truth is illustrated by Gareth's overcoming the petulant opposition of Lynette? Connect the teaching of this poem with the thought of the whole series. FORM.--What is the meter of the poem? What are the principal variations from the normal line in the number of syllables and the position of accents or stresses? Explain and illustrate _cæsura_, _end-stopt line_, _run-on line_. What variations do you find in the position of the pauses? What is the effect of the variations on the music of the verse? Base your study of meter on several passages (for example, ll. 100-150, 520-550, 1350-1394). Compare the language used by Bellicent and Gareth in their dialogue (ll. 34-168), with descriptive passages (like 184-193, 209-226, 376-427, 650-685, and 883-900). What differences do you note in the poet's choice of words? Find passages that present a vivid picture, a vigorous action, simple narrative, true sentiment. _Lancelot and Elaine_ SETTING.--Where did the King keep court at the time of this story? Where did Elaine live?