While the wild wind went moaning everywhere, The Return of the Birds 28 But the next Spring a stranger sight was seen, A Upon whose boughs were wicker cages hung, All full of singing birds, came down the street, 29 From all the country round these birds were brought, 30 But blither still and louder carolled they Their songs burst forth in joyous overflow, HELPS TO STUDY Notes and Questions What season is described in the poem? When did the events described occur? What tells you this? Which of the evidences of spring, here mentioned, have you seen? What is meant by "the vanguard of the Spring''? What does the poet say are its "banners''? What are the "fluttering signals' of the rivulets? Who does he say wrote "those lovely lyrics" the merle and mavis sing? Read the prayer the crows utter incessantly. What tells you the direction from which the "birds of passage'' came? What alarmed the farmers? For what purpose was a townmeeting called? What kind of man was the Squire? What lines tell you this? Read lines that describe the Par son. Tell about the Preceptor. Read lines that describe the Deacon. Who championed the cause of the birds? Read the stanzas that contain his speech. What service does he say the birds render to man? What was the effect of his speech? What action did the meeting take? What resulted from the destruction of the birds? What comparison is made relating to Herod? To schoolboys? By whom were the birds restored? How did the Preceptor celebrate the restoration of the birds? Memorize the last half of stanza sixteen. Words and Phrases for Discussion Caedmon-An Anglo-Saxon who wrote a Bible poem called "Caedmon's Paraphrase." He was not a poet and when sometimes at entertainments it was agreed for the sake of mirth that all present should sing in turn, he withdrew and went home. On one such occasion he went to the stable and slept, and in his sleep a vision appeared and said to him, "Caedmon, sing some song to me. He answered, "I cannot sing; for that was the reason I left the entertainment and retired here." The vision said, "However, you shall sing."' "What shall I sing?" said Caedmon. "Sing the beginning of cre ated beings,' said the vision, whereupon Caedmon began to sing verses to the praise of God. He remembered the poetry which he had composed in his dream and repeated it in the morning to the inmates of the monastery, who concluded the gift of song was a divine gift and had him enter the monastery and devote his time to poetry. sparrows-Holy Writ-See Matthew X, 29-31. Cassandra-the daughter of Priam, King of Troy, who was slain in the sacking of Troy. Apollo gave her the gift of prophecy, but afterward became angry at her and decreed that no one should believe her prophecies. See page 227. Jonathan Edwards-an American preacher, who wrote a book on the "Freedom of the Will."' "as David did for Saul''-See I Samuel XVI, 14-23. "A very St. Bartholomew of Birds'-here used to mean a slaughter of birds. "like Herod"-See Matthew II. "Who hears the ravens cry"Luke XII, 24. Doom's-Day book-A book containing a digest of a census of England under William the Conqueror, so-called because its decision was regarded as final. "fluttering signals'' "all their fleet' "jocund Spring" "fabulous days" "prognosticating" "fluted columns'' "majestic tread" ''jargoning'' "melodious madrigals" "feathered gleaners' "fine-spun sentiment’’ ''vanquished" "winged wardens'' "melancholy hurdy-gurdies' "satires to the authorities addressed'' "a new heaven bent over a new earth" What things are compared in each of the following figures of speech: "steeples of the piny wood' "fusillade of terror" "tongues of flame' THE RHODORA RALPH WALDO EMERSON In May, when sea-winds pierced our solitudes, Made the black water with their beauty gay; This charm is wasted on the earth and sky, Tell them, dear, that, if eyes were made for seeing, Then beauty is its own excuse for being; Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose! I never thought to ask; I never knew; The self-same power that brought me there brought you. THE HUMBLEBEE RALPH WALDO EMERSON 1 Burly dozing humblebee! Where thou art is clime for me. 2 Insect lover of the sun, Sailor of the atmosphere, Swimmer through the waves of air, Voyager of light and noon, Epicurean of June, Wait I prithee, till I come Within ear-shot of thy hum,— All without is martyrdom. 3 When the south wind, in May days, With a net of shining haze, Silvers the horizon wall, And, with softness touching all, Tints the human countenance With a color of romance, And, infusing subtle heats, |
