5. Give the main elements of his style. 6. Name three novels written by Holmes. 7. For what biographies are we indebted to him? 8. As a humorist compare him with Lowell, VIII, 255; with Irving, VII, 271; with Lamb, VIII, 73, 86. FROM "THE AUTOCRAT OF THE BREAKFAST TABLE" 1. Is there a moral to the poem "The Wonderful One-hoss-shay"? If so, what is it? 2. When is slang permissible, according to Holmes? 3. To whom does the title of this selection refer? 4. Account for the sudden changes of topic and their diversity of character. 5. What is the effect of the quotation connected with the poem "Contentment"? 6. Is the intermingling of poetry and prose common? How is it peculiarly suitable here? 7. What are Holmes's views concerning the literary talent of the United States? 8. If the works of an author portray his character, how would you classify Oliver Wendell Holmes as a man? FOR REFERENCE "Holmes: The Autocrat and his Fellow Boarders."--CROTHERS. "Authors and Friends."--FIELDS. "Old Cambridge" ("National Studies in American Letters").--HIGGINSON. "The Poet Among the Hills."--SMITH. HOMER (1000 B.C.) The ancient Greek tradition assigned the authorship of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" to the blind bard, Homer, of whose origin and personality nothing is known, although seven cities claimed to be his birthplace. More than a century of the closest study and research, including the investigation of ancient Troy, has shown that these two immortal epic poems are hardly to be called the work of one man, but that they have been compiled and unified by one poet from several shorter works, dealing with incidents leading to the fall of Troy and the wanderings of Odysseus. The site of Troy, close to the entrance to the Dardanelles, has been occupied by nine cities, excavations showing their remains resting in distinct layers, five of which belong to the pre-Homeric times, the sixth being the city of the "Iliad," sacked in the year 1184 B.C. Its fall was due, originally, to a dispute among the gods as to which was the fairest, Hera, the wife of Zeus, goddess of earthly dominion, Athene, goddess of wisdom, or Aphrodite, goddess of love. Paris, the son of Priam, king of Troy, was chosen judge and awarded the prize to Aphrodite, tempted by her offer of the most beautiful woman in the world for his wife and rejecting the bribes of empire and of wisdom which were offered by the others.