Emerson did not write for children. His essays are intended for those who have at least some maturity of mind, and the will to think. It is evident that if the essays are to be studied in high school they should be undertaken only by advanced classes. But there are many in our high schools who will be able to understand enough of Emerson's thought to make a study of his essays exceedingly profitable. It will require good judgment on the part of the teacher to determine which topics should be thoroughly mastered, and which should be lightly touched upon, for no one will doubt that the high school is not the place for a thorough study of such essays. I. Preparation If the class has studied Carlyle or Ruskin, it will be well to begin with a comparison of these two men with Emerson in order to show the latter's place as a self-appointed teacher and his motives in presenting to his audience such matters as he discusses in his essays and addresses. A brief study of the life and character of Emerson will help us to understand his message. Before assigning one of the essays for study the teacher should provide for the class a brief outline or analysis, and explain the general thought which it contains. The thought is often so difficult to follow that it is unwise to require the pupil to make his own outlines. II. Reading and Study With the aid of an outline or analysis the first reading should enable the student to get a fair understanding of the essay as a whole. He should know the theme and what it means, the author's plan and method of development. The second reading should be taken up with as much attention to detail as the maturity of the class makes advisable. Care should be observed that in the study of details the larger unit be not forgotten. To this end the teacher, by frequent review, should make sure of a thorough mastery of the outline, and by questions should bring out the connection between details and main propositions. Parrot work, to which there is a strong temptation whenever hard thinking is called for, can be avoided by requiring the pupil to state in his own words the main ideas, which Emerson frequently embodies in epigrammatic form. III. Study of Each Essay as a Whole _The American Scholar_ What is the theme of this essay? What distinction does Emerson make between "the farmer" and "Man on the farm," between "the scholar" and "Man Thinking"? Emerson speaks of the education of the scholar by nature, by books, and by action. Develop his idea of education by nature. What does Lowell say of the influence of nature on man in the early part of _The Vision of Sir Launfal_? How does Emerson think the scholar should be educated by books? Explain his meaning in the following expressions about reading: "Yet hence arises a grave mischief" (p. 39); "Books are for the scholar's idle times" (p. 42); "One must be an inventor to read well" (p. 43).