Chapter 21

What is the theme in the last chapter? Gluck's attempt to turn the river into gold.

Give the main incidents.

1. The priest gave him holy water. 2. He gave water to the aged man and the child. 3. He gave his last drop of water to the dying dog. 4. The dog was transformed into the King of the Golden River. 5. He gave Gluck three drops of dew. 6. Gluck cast the water into the river. 7. Treasure Valley again became a fertile garden, and Gluck became very rich.

What were the indications that Gluck would be successful? After giving the old man some water, the "path became easier"; "grasshoppers began singing"; there was "bright green moss"; "pale pink starry flowers"; "soft belled gentians"; "pure white transparent lilies"; "its waves were as clear as crystal".

What strong contrast is brought out in this story? There is a contrast between this chapter and the two preceding ones. Gluck's conduct is so different from that of Schwartz and Hans; and the aspect of nature, as it appears to him, is very different from the scenes viewed by his brothers.

Describe Treasure Valley after it was changed. The "fresh grass sprang beside the new streams"; "creeping plants grew"; "young flowers opened"; "thickets of myrtle and tendrils of vine cast lengthening shadows"; "his barns became full of corn and his house of treasure".

Why did Gluck deserve so much kindness? He had been hospitable to South-West Wind, Esq.; had suffered hunger and punishment on his account; had been industrious; had freed the King of the Golden River from his enchantment; had obeyed his instructions; had felt sorry for Hans; had paid Schwartz's fine; and had shown mercy to animals and helpless people.

Was there anything said about the two older brothers? Yes, there are two black stones, which people still call "The Black Brothers", at the top of the cataract. This story tells how these stones came to be there.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

(Fourth Reader, page 39)

The pupils have read _Scrooge's Christmas_, in the Fourth Reader. They have also read the synopsis of _A Christmas Carol_ at the beginning of the lesson. If they have read the first four _staves_ of the carol in a general way, they will be in a better position to study intensively the last stave, or chapter, which is the lesson in the Reader. They will understand the causes that have changed this "covetous old sinner" to the man "who knew how to keep Christmas Day well". This lesson should be taken up near Christmas. The pupils will discuss Stave I, after having read it at home.

Stave I

What is the title of this work? A Christmas Carol.

Why is it called a carol? In England, it is the custom for bands of singers, called "waits", to go from house to house on Christmas Eve. The author calls this ghost story of Christmas a carol in prose, for it pictures the joys and sorrows of this season.

What does a stave mean? It keeps up the idea of a carol. Each chapter is called a stave, or stanza of the carol.

What is the title of the first stave? "Marley's Ghost."

Who was Marley? He had been Scrooge's partner, but was now dead. He had been as miserly as Scrooge himself.

Where is the scene laid? In London.

When? On Christmas Eve.

Describe Scrooge. "Oh but he was a tight-fisted hand ... one degree at Christmas". (See Stave I of _A Christmas Carol_.)

Notice the wonderful accumulation of strong adjectives and phrases in this description. Why does the author use so many? He wishes to emphasize the cold miserliness of this man.

What is the first incident? Scrooge's treatment of his nephew, who has invited him to dinner on Christmas Day.

What does this incident show? His churlishness, and his contempt for those who spend money freely.

What is the next incident? His refusal to subscribe to any charities in the city.

What comes next? The account of his treatment of Bob Cratchit.

What does this show? His meanness and tyranny.

When he returns from his supper, what does he encounter? Marley's Ghost.

What does the ghost tell him? How it must wander through the world without rest, in atonement for Marley's cruelties and his neglect of other people. It laments his misspent life.

What does it promise to do to Scrooge? It promises to send him "Three Spirits".

What good description is found in Stave I? Besides the character sketch of Scrooge, there is a picture of Christmas Eve in the London streets, in the paragraph beginning "Meanwhile the fog and darkness thickened".

Stave II

What is described in this chapter? The visit of the first spirit.

What was it? The "Ghost of Christmas Past".

Read me a description of it. "It was a strange figure ... like a child ... which it held under its arm".

What does the spirit do? It forces Scrooge to accompany it and shows him former Christmas scenes in his life.

What are these scenes? Scrooge as a solitary boy at school; his boyhood stories, _Ali Baba_ and _Robinson Crusoe_; his sister; Fezziwig's ball; Scrooge's sweetheart; scenes in her married life.

What is the mood of these different scenes? There is humour, and a great deal of fun, as well as some pathos. It is all told in a lively style.

What are the best descriptions? Fezziwig's ball, and the remembrance of the scenes in _Ali Baba_.

Stave III

What is told in this chapter? The visit of the second spirit.

Who was it? The "Spirit of Christmas Present".

What does it show Scrooge? Scenes of Christmas shopping; Christmas out-of-doors; the Grocers; Bob Cratchit's family, the goose, their dinner, the puddings; the miner's home; the lighthouse keepers; the sailors; Scrooge's nephew at home--blindman's bluff, forfeits, Yes and No; vision of "Ignorance" and "Want".

What do all these scenes go to show? How different kinds of people keep Christmas; how kind and merry most people are at this season of the year: and how some have to struggle in order to get this one day's pleasure.

Select some examples of humour. Peter's conceit, some of the descriptions of the grocery stores, the anticipations lest harm befall the goose and the pudding.

Select any examples of pathos. The references to Tiny Tim.

Select and read the best descriptions. The grocery stores, the fruit stores, the goose, the pudding.

Stave IV

What is told in this chapter? The visit of the third spirit.

What was it? The "Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come".

What does it show Scrooge? A vision of his death--how he is plundered by laundress, charwoman, and undertaker; the phantom of Death; Scrooge's creditors; the grave.

Had these scenes actually taken place? No, but they will be realized if Scrooge does not change his manner of thinking and living.

What is the effect of these three visions? Scrooge promises the "Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come" "I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year".

Why are the scenes in this chapter not so pleasant as those that the two former spirits had shown him? The scenes that the first spirit had brought before him were his joys at the Christmas season before he had hardened his heart; those that the second spirit had shown were scenes in the lives of people who do something for others and enjoy themselves in the true Christmas spirit; those that the last spirit had shown were the sordid scenes which would be sure to come if he did not change his attitude toward life. The last scenes shown him by the third spirit furnish a strong contrast to the others.

Stave V

What does this chapter relate? How Scrooge actually kept Christmas Day.

What were the other chapters about? The first and the last were the only chapters where he was awake. Chapters Two, Three, and Four are visions or dreams. Notice how the phantom changed into the bed-post.

This chapter should be studied closely. Who wrote this story? Charles Dickens, an English novelist.

Do you know any other good stories by the same author? _David Copperfield_, _The Pickwick Papers_, _Nicholas Nickleby_.

Yes, we have had extracts in the Readers from these books.

What lessons are they? _The Pickwick Club on the Ice_, in the _Third Book_; _David Copperfield's First Journey Alone_, and _The Indignation of Nicholas Nickleby_ in the _Fourth Book_.

Some day you must read these stories. _David Copperfield_ tells us a great deal about Dickens' early days. _The Pickwick Papers_ is full of humour in scenes such as that depicted in _The Pickwick Club on the Ice_, and has some fine characters in it, and _Nicholas Nickleby_ gives a vivid picture of the brutality existing in some schools in England at the time the book was written.

THE LADY OF THE LAKE

(Fourth Reader, page 270)

The pupils will have read the account of the stirring combat between Fitz-James and Roderick Dhu. They will be curious to know the circumstances that led up to this combat and also the conclusion of the story.

The aim of the teacher is to lead the pupils to appreciate the construction of the story, the fine character sketches, and the descriptions of natural scenery, as well as to give them an impression of Highland life. The pupils will take delight in the rapid movement of the verse and in the deeds of valour.

Some passages should be dwelt upon at greater length by the teacher, and others more lightly touched upon, so that the connections of the various parts will be understood. A close and tedious consideration of all the lines would not show a good critical taste, as some passages are very fine, while others have only ordinary merit.

The teacher should disclose the identity of Fitz-James as James V of Scotland and should explain the cause of the exile of the Douglas Family. He should also sketch the life of rebellion and consequent outlawry led by some of the Highland clans before they were reduced to submission.