How did Franklin manage men, get them to think as he did, and do what he wished? Illustrate by incidents. What traits of character were in the main responsible for his attainments in each of the lines in which he gained a distinct success? Mention a few of the most important principles of his homely philosophy. Give incidents from his own acts to show whether or not he practised what he preached. OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF CARLYLE'S ESSAY ON BURNS I. Preparation Some of the following topics call merely for statements by the teacher; some for a special report; and others for class study. The more familiar the class are with the poetry and the life of Burns the more profitable will be their study of this essay. The Scotchman's remarkable love for Burns. The popularity of many of Burns's songs and poems. Reading and study of some of Burns's poems. A study of the important facts of Burns's life. Who Carlyle was. His interest in Burns. Circumstances of writing this essay. The assumption of the author with reference to the knowledge of his audience. II. First Reading An outline like the following will be helpful in getting the thought with the first reading: The purpose of biography pp. 55-60 General estimate of Burns pp. 60-66 Burns as a literary man pp. 66-98 Burns as a man pp. 99-134 A plea for breadth and generosity in our estimate of the man pp. 134-136 III. Second Reading It is so difficult for students to gain a mastery of the thought that the second reading must be slowly and carefully done. IV. Study of the Book as a Whole CONTENT.--What is the theme of the essay? Trace the development of the theme by means of a full topical outline. Has the essay unity? Upon what is based the claim that Burns was a great poet? What are the elements of his greatness? From the three paragraphs (pp. 80-84) the first of which begins: "In fact, one of the leading features in the mind of Burns is this vigour of his strictly intellectual perceptions," would Carlyle have us believe that Burns had a strong character? To what extent, if at all, did he have a strong character? Is it true that there was "but one era in the life of Burns, and that the earliest"? (see p. 99). To what extent was his life a failure? What were the causes of his failure? What share of the blame belongs to his friends and acquaintances? To what extent was his life a success? FORM.--Basing your answers on a few specific paragraphs, tell what you find about the unity of the paragraphs, the clearness of their development, regularity of sentence structure. Do you find the words specific or general? forceful and full of feeling, or conventional? How much use is made of figurative language?