POR
JUAN RAMÓN JIMÉNEZ
EDITED WITH NOTES, DIRECT-METHOD
EXERCISES, AND VOCABULARY
BY
GERTRUDE M. WALSH
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, COLUMBUS, OHIO
WITH A CRITICAL INTRODUCTION BY
FEDERICO DE ONÍS
ILLUSTRATED BY
MAUD AND MISKA PETERSHAM
1922
The present edition of Platero y yo contains selections from both thefirst edition of the original work, published by La Lectura, Madrid,1914, in its Biblioteca de Juventud, and the complete edition,published by Calleja, Madrid, 1917, as one of the volumes of Obras deJuan Ramón Jiménez. In the interests of classroom work a few slightchanges have been made, but it is hoped that in no case has the simplebeauty of the author's style been marred.
In making the selections for use in this edition, the editor has aimedto choose those in which the narrative element predominates, confidentthat the delicate simplicity and charming philosophy of these idyllicsketches will arouse interest and excite sympathy as does no narrativeof the usual sort. With almost no exception, pupils delight in readinganimal stories, and who could resist the appealing charm of Platero yyo, in which the central figure is a little donkey possessing all thequalities of amiability and camaraderie which Stevenson's mouse-coloredModestine so utterly lacked?
Although the editor believes the material to be eminently suitable forsecond-year classes, the brevity of the chapters, the simplicity ofstyle, the Notes, which are intended to be thorough and to explain alldifficult passages, and the carefully prepared Vocabulary are notablefeatures which should recommend its use with any classes that have anunderstanding of the fundamental principles of Spanish grammar.
It is intended that the Exercises will afford a means not only ofreviewing mere forms but also of distinguishing as to usage betweenwords frequently confused,--a phase of foreign language study thatpresents difficulties even to students of advanced classes. Especialattention is called to the Redacción, a type of exercise that has beenfound most helpful in stimulating an interest in oral and writtenrésumé. There is much mechanical monotony in the question-and-answerexercise if used without variation, and any exercise that will aid inencouraging a spirit of adventure, a willingness to use new speech unitsas a basis for self-expression, is well worth trying. It is suggestedthat the pupil be allowed to refer to the key-words in giving the résuméand that he be directed to make such word groups for himself of thosechapters not already provided with the Redacción. It is a valuableexercise to select the significant words and phrases, those that suggestin logical sequence the principal episodes of the narrative as well astheir descriptive background.
The editor gratefully acknowledges her indebtedness to Sr. Juan RamónJiménez for permission to use Platero y yo, to Professor Federico deOnís, General Editor of this Series, for his valuable assistance inpreparing the material, and to the Editorial Department of D.C. Heath &Co. for many helpful suggestions and advice
G.M.W.
Verbos de la primera conjugación.
--El verbo irregular ir.
Verbos de la segunda