Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/527

Rh

THE VIRGINIANS OF THE VALLEY (PAGE 298)

This poem was written early in the war, just after Virginia had become the scene of conflict.

"Golden Horse-shoe" Knights: the followers of Governor Spots- wood of Virginia who made with him the famous expedition to the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains were each given a golden horseshoe in token of the achievement, thus establishing a sort of Virginia knighthood.

QUESTIONS, i. What references to Virginia s past in the first two

stanzas? 2. What tribute to her in the last stanza?

UNKNOWN (PAGE 299)

The poet s dedication of this poem is "To the Women of the South decorating graves of Unknown Soldiers."

QUESTIONS, i. What scene is described? 2. Why the expression

"doubly dead," line 8?

PAGE BROOK (PAGE 300)

The title is the name of an old Southern homestead that had been desolated by the war.

QUESTION. What contrasts are made between the home as it now

is and as it formerly was?

LOYAL (PAGE 301)

This poem was written to commemorate the courage of General Pat Cleburne. At the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, in November, 1864, which General John B. Gordon has called "the bloodiest battle of modern times," he was, against his judgment, ordered to take some well-manned breastworks. He replied to the order, "General, I will take the works or fall in the effort." He was killed in the attempt. The Douglas: Lord Douglas, the friend of Robert Bruce, who, when the latter s wish to go on a crusade was frustrated by death, fulfilled Bruce s request to take his heart to Jerusalem. Who sheltered: such Southerners as Cleburne and his men.

QUESTION. The poem consists of eight stanzas of introduction with

a final stanza of application. What is the thought of each of these parts?