HELPS TO STUDY. Notes and Questions. What stanzas express the poet's love for the dandelion? To what historical fact do the first two lines of the second stanza refer? Does this statement seem to you extravagant? How does the poet justify it? What stanzas tell us why the dandelion is so dear to the poet? Where must he have lived to have learned what he tells us in these stanzas? Read the lines which tell you in what period of his life this occurred. What things are described in stanza four? What in stanza five? What comparison occurs in stanza four? Does it appeal to you as apt and beautiful? Did you ever gaze up at the blue sky and drifting, fleecy clouds? Does the poet describe these well? What does the robin's song be come to the listening child? Why so to the child more than to the man? Read lines that answer this question. What duty and what truth does nature teach through the dandelion? Which stanza do you like best? TO THE FRINGED GENTIAN. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. 1 Thou blossom, bright with autumn dew, 2 Thou comest not when violets lean 3 Thou waitest late, and com'st alone, And frosts and shortening days portend 4 Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye 5 I would that thus, when I shall see HELPS TO STUDY. Notes and Questions. To whom is this poem addressed? At what time of the year does the fringed gentian bloom? What words tell you? Read the words that tell the color of the gentian. When does it open? What words does the poet use to mean early morning? Why does he speak of the "quiet light" When do violets come? In what kind of soil do they grow? What words in the poem tell you this? Why did the poet say violets "'lean''? What does he tell you about the columbine when he says it "'nods''? What does "aged year" mean? By what signs does the poet know winter is coming? What does the repetition of the word "blue" in the third line of the fourth stanza add to the thought? Of what is this color said to be the symbol? What does the poet mean by the "cerulean wall"? To what in his life does Bryant compare the end of the year? What does the little flower represent in this comparison? What part of this poem do you like best? Why? 2 Continuous as the stars that shine Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. 3 The waves beside them danced; but they In such a jocund company; I gazed and gazed - but little thought God might have made the earth bring forth Enough for great and small, The oak tree and the cedar tree, Without a flower at all. He might have made enough, enough For luxury, medicine, and toil, And yet have made no flowers. 2 The ore within the mountain mine Requireth none to grow; Nor does it need the lotus flower To make the river flow. The clouds might give abundant rain, The nightly dews might fall, Might yet have drunk them all. 3 Then wherefore, wherefore were they made, All dyed with rainbow light, |