Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/511

Rh would be difficult to find anywhere in English literature a more exquisite tribute to womanhood."

QUESTIONS, i. What qualities of woman are spoken of? 2. What

has been the typical attitude of the Southern man toward the other sex?

MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR

THE DAUGHTER OF MENDOZA (PAGE 197)

It is said that this poem was inspired by a beautiful woman whom Lamar had met in Central America. Mendoza: a river of the Argentine Republic.

QUESTIONS, i. What details of the woman s beauty are given?

2. What has been the effect of this meeting upon the poet? 3. These stanzas have been spoken of as "lilting and sparkling." Illustrate.

ALBERT PIKE

To THE MOCKING BIRD (PAGE 198)

JEolian strain: music like that produced by the wind harp.

QUESTIONS, i. What idea regarding the mocking bird does each

stanza contain? 2. Read Keats s " Ode to the Nightingale " and give an opinion as to how far Pike may have been indebted to Keats s poem.

PHILIP PENDLETON COOKE

FLORENCE VANE (PAGE 200)

This widely known song of Cooke is said to be purely a romance of the writer s imagination. Thy heart was as a river, etc.: Cooke explained the meaning of these obscure lines as follows: "Florence did not want the capacity to love, but directed her love to no object. Her passions went flowing like a lost river." His next sentence in this explanation is an interesting example of the influence Byron exerted over these early Southern lyrists. " Byron has a kindred idea expressed by the same figure. Per haps his verses were in my mind when I wrote my own:

"She was the ocean to the river of his thoughts, Which terminated all. The Dream "

QUESTIONS, i. What situation is given in the poem? 2. Does it

seem artificial in its sentiment? 3. What is responsible for its charm?