improvements?

Give the facts of his education, including his training, his private
reading and study, and his broader education that came from association
and travel.

For the advantages of his education how much did he owe to his parents
and the circumstances in which he chanced to find himself as a boy? How
much to fortunate association with wise men? How much to his own wise
and persevering efforts?

Tell what you can of his ancestors, and discuss how much he owed his
success to heredity.

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 ar