THE VISION OF SIR LAUNFAL

AND OTHER POEMS

BY

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL

EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY
JULIAN W. ABERNETHY, PH.D., PRINCIPAL OF
THE BERKELEY INSTITUTE, BROOKLYN, N.Y.

Merrill's English Texts

NEW YORK

CHARLES E. MERRILL CO.

44-60 East Twenty-third Street

Copyright, 1908, by Charles E. Merrill Co.

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PREFACE

The aim of this edition of the Vision of Sir Launfal is to furnishthe material that must be used in any adequate treatment of the poemin the class room, and to suggest other material that may be used inthe more leisurely and fruitful method of study that is sometimespossible in spite of the restrictions of arbitrary courses of study.

In interpreting the poem with young students, special emphasis shouldbe given to the ethical significance, the broad appeal to humansympathy and the sense of a common brotherhood of men, an appeal thatis in accord with the altruistic tendencies of the present time; tothe intimate appreciation and love of nature expressed in the poem,feelings also in accord with the present movement of cultured mindstoward the natural world; to the lofty and inspiring idealism ofLowell, as revealed in the poems included in this volume and in hisbiography, and also as contrasted with current materialism; and,finally, to the romantic sources of the story in the legends of KingArthur and his table round, a region of literary delight too generallyunknown to present-day students.[4]

After these general topics, it is assumed that such matters asliterary structure and poetic beauty will receive due attention. Ifthe technical faults of the poem, which critics are at much pains topoint out, are not discovered by the student, his knowledge will bequite as profitable. Additional reading in Lowell's works should besecured, and can be through the sympathetic interest and enthusiasm ofthe instructor. The following selections may be used for rapidexamination and discussion: Under the Willows, The First Snow-Fall,Under the Old Elm, Auf Wiedersehen, Sunthin' in the Pastoral Line,Jonathan to John, Mr. Hosea Biglow to the Editor of the AtlanticMonthly, and the prose essays My Garden Acquaintance and A GoodWord for Winter. The opportunity should not be lost for making thestudents forever and interestedly acquainted with Lowell, with thepoet and the man.

The editor naturally does not assume responsibility for the characterof the examination questions given, at the end of this volume. Theyare questions that have been used in recent years in college entrancepapers by two eminent examination boards.

J.W.A.

October 1, 1908.

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CONTENTS