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their poems. Give an outline of the life of Sidney Lanier. What were some of his publications other than verse? What is his theory of verse? What peculiar quality distinguishes his poetry? Note the illustrations of this peculiar quality in the extract from "The Marshes of Glynn." Point out the specially characteristic passages in the extract from "Corn,” and in that from "The Symphony." Give some characteristic fact about each of the other writers named in this chapter. What Epic verse is there in the poetry of this period? What Dramatic verse?

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CHAPTER XI

PERIOD OF THE LATER NINETEENTH CENTURY,

1850-1880

NARRATIVE 'PROSE

THE Various influences noticed in the introduction to the study of this period tended rather to the development of prose writing than to that of poetry. Our difficulty, henceforth, will be largely that of selection and condensation. It will be quite impossible, within reasonable limits, to name all the writers who, by their intrinsic merit, would deserve mention rather than some of those whose names will be found in the earlier chapters. All that one can. hope to accomplish is to make the work representative. It is practically impossible to make it complete.

Herman

Melville, born in New

A writer of fiction who belongs, as to most of his Fiction. work, to the previous period, but who is placed here because of his close association with Hawthorne, is Herman Melville. He is our best novelist of travel and sea life; and in one of his books has presented us with a type of life which otherwise is not repre- York, 1819; sented in American fiction, - the life of a common sailor in the United States navy. "White Jacket," the book which presents this unique picture of life, is an interesting story; and is said to have been

died, 1891.

Nathaniel
Hawthorne,

born in
Salem,
Massachu-
setts, 1804;
died, 1864.

influential in securing the abolition of flogging, and suggesting other reforms in the management of our naval service. "Typee" and "Omoo" are tales of life in the islands of the Pacific; and are also unique in American fiction. Among Melville's writings are "Mardi," 1849; "Moby Dick," 1851; "Battle Pieces and Aspects of the War," 1866; and “Clarel,” 1876. He was a warm friend of Hawthorne, and the two writers consulted and corresponded about their works.

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a descendant of William Hathorne, who came from England to Massachusetts in 1630, and who was a typical Puritan. His son, John Hathorne, was prominent in Salem during the witchcraft excitement, and as judge condemned some of the unhappy victims to death. There is a legend that one of these victims cursed his judge before he went to his death; a legend that naturally suggested the similar incident in "The House of the Seven Gables."

Hawthorne was a delicate child; and a serious injury kept him from school for two years, during which enforced retirement he studied privately with Dr. J. E. Worcester, the famous dictionary-maker. This confinement doubtless strengthened his natural disposition to shyness of manner. It also led to a good deal of reading and brooding over what he read. Three books had a strong influence in forming his literary style. They are Spenser's "Faerie Queene," Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," and "The Newgate Calendar." The delicate fancy, the pro

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