_The Italian in
England_.
12. =Petrarch's Vaucluse=. The fountain from which the Sorgue rises.
The town of Vaucluse (Valclusa) was the home of the poet Petrarch
(1304-1374).
14. =debt=. The obligation to visit a famous place.
39. =Tuileries=. The imperial palace in Paris.
43-44. What is meant? Death? Freedom?
46-47. In allusion to the game of _rouge-et-noir_. Criticise the
taste shown here.
In what sense does the poet intend to "save" the building? Describe
the scene that he recalls. What three types are the suicides? How does
the poet know? Why does he deny the failure of their lives? Does he
base his optimistic hope on reason or feeling? Note the climax in
line's 55-57. State in your own words the meaning of the last six
lines.
FEARS AND SCRUPLES. (PAGE 80.)
The problem of the religions doubter is here set forth by an analogy.
5. =letters=. The reference is of course to the Scriptures.
17 ff. In
reference to sceptical criticism.
What are the "fears and scruples" held by the speaker? What proof does
he desire to allay his doubts? Does he settle the doubt or put it
aside? Where is his spirit of reverence best shown?
INSTANS TYRANNUS. (PAGE 82.)
="Instans Tyrannus"=, the threatening tyrant. The phrase is from
Horace's _Odes_, Book III., iii., as is probably the idea of the
poem. Gladstone translates the passage:--
"The just man in his purpose strong,
No madding crowd can turn to wrong.
The forceful tyrant's brow and word
. . . . . . .
His firm-set spirit cannot move."
There is novelty of conception in giving the situation from the
tyrant's point of view. Compare also the seventh Ode of Horace in Book
II.
44. =gravamen=. Latin for burden, difficulty, annoyance.
69. =Just= (as) =my vengeance= (was) =complete=.
What conception do you get of the tyrant? What is his motive? What
things aggravate his hatred? How does he seek to "extinguish the man"?
What baffles him at first? What defeats him finally? Is he deterred
by physical or moral fear? By what means is the poem given vigor and
clearness? Note the dramatic effect in the last stanza.
THE PATRIOT. (PAGE 85.)
At what point in his career does the speaker give his story? What have
been his motives? How was he at first treated? What indicates that
the change is not in him, but in the fickle mob? How does he view his
downfall? In what thought lies his sense of triumph? How does his
greatness o
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