Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookOpen Original Text United States, or in a
cyclopedia. The questions in italics may of course, like all the rest,
be omitted at the discretion of the teacher. The research required to
answer such questions, however, will be of great value to the
students, if they have the time for it. See also the suggestions given
in the Preface.
GENERAL QUESTIONS.
These questions apply to all the authors, and hence will not be
repeated under each name.
1. Give the date of birth, and the date of death of those not living.
2. Where was the author born? 3. Where did he pass his life? 4. What
was his education? 5. What was his profession and what positions, if
any, did he fill? 6. Describe his character. 7. His style of writing.
8. Give the names of his Works. 9. Title and contents of the extracts
given. 10. Learn the short extracts and poems by heart. _11. Find on
the map all the places mentioned._ (_This is of prime importance, and
I beg that this question may never be omitted_).
FIRST PERIOD, 1579-1750.
JOHN SMITH.--1. Why did Captain Smith fight against the Turks? 2. When
did he come to America? 3. How did he spend his time after 1609? _4.
What other settlement was in America at this time besides Jamestown?_
_5. By whom and when made?_
WILLIAM STRACHEY.--1. What is the special fame of this description of
a storm? 2. Give some features of it. _3. Who was ruler of England at
this time?_
JOHN LAWSON.--1. Why did he come to Carolina, and when? 2. Tell of
his sad death. 3. What is the story of "Sir Walter Raleigh's Ship"?
(_See the poem, "The Palatine Ship," by William Gilmore Simms_) _4.
Was there any settlement in South Carolina at this time?_ _5. If so
when and by whom made?_
WILLIAM BYRD.--1. What distinction has Byrd among the writers of
Virginia? 2. For what was his daughter Evelyn noted? 3. Who was
governor of North Carolina in 1713-1720? _4. Is the Dismal Swamp so
hard to cross now?_ _5. How old was George Washington when William
Byrd died?_ _6. What town is named for Governor Eden?_
SECOND PERIOD, 1750-1800.
HENRY LAURENS.--1. Why did he go to Europe in 1771? in 1779? 2. What
title was given his son John? 3. For whom was he exchanged? 4. How was
he buried? _5. What was happening in America during his imprisonment,
1779-1781?_
GEORGE WASHINGTON.--1. What did his mother say of him? 2. What is his
national title? 3. What monuments have been reared to him? 4. What
salary had he as Commander in Chief? 5. When was the Farewell Address
written? _6. Where and when did his inauguration as President take
place?_ _7. When was Washington City laid off as the Capital of the
United States?_ _8. Name the thirteen original States._
PATRICK HENRY.--1. What did Jefferson say of him? 2. What part did he
take in the Revolutionary War? 3. When did he say "If this be
treason--"? 4. When and where was his greatest speech made? _5. What
other great man died the same year that he did?_ _6. What difference
in their ages?_
WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON.--1. Who went with him to be educated? 2. What
bold public statement did he make in April, 1776? _3. What battles of
the Revolution occurred in South Carolina during Drayton's life?_
THOMAS JEFFERSON.--1. What is Jefferson's title? 2. Of what political
party is he considered the founder? 3. What other ex-president died
the same day? 4. What inscription is on his tomb? 5. What does he say
of the relative positions of the upper and lower classes? _6. Who were
presidents before Jefferson?_ _7. Who, after him, up to the time of
his death?_ _8. What famous Frenchman visited Jefferson in 1825?_ _9.
Quote some of the Declaration of Independence._
DAVID RAMSAY.--1. Who was his second wife? 2. Of what profession were
their daughters? _3. Where is Fort Moultrie and for whom named?_ _4.
Where is there a statue to Sergeant Jasper?_
JAMES MADISON.--1. What is Professor Fiske's estimate of him? 2. Tell
of his marriage and of Mrs. Madison. _3. How long and when was Madison
President?_ _4. What war took place during that time?_ _5. What
disaster occurred in Washington in 1814?_ _6. What patriotic song was
written the same year?_
ST. GEORGE TUCKER.--1. When did he come to America and whom did he
marry? _2. Where is William and Mary College and when was it founded?_
_3. What famous men were teachers and students there?_
JOHN MARSHALL.--1. How long was he Chief Justice? 2. Repeat Charles
Cotesworth Pinckney's famous remark. 3. Over what great trial did
Marshall preside? 4. When was it? 5. Where are fine statues of him?
_6. Who was Pinckney?_
HENRY LEE.--1. What title had he in the Revolution? 2. Who was his
mother? 3. What well known words were first used by him? 4. Who was
his most famous son? _5. Was Mrs. Motte's house burned down?_
MASON LOCKE WEEMS.--1. Of what church was he rector?
JOHN DRAYTON.--1. Whose son was he? 2. When did the battle of Noewee
occur? _3. Who were Lord North and Lord Grenville?_ _4. What relation
was Lieutenant Hampton to General Wade Hampton, of South Carolina?_
WILLIAM WIRT.--1. What two famous speeches by Wirt are here mentioned?
2. Who was the "Blind Preacher"? 3. What did Wirt say of life, in
1829? _4. Learn something more about the "Blind Preacher."_ (_See
People's Cyclopedia, Hart's American Literature._) _5. Who were
Demothenes, Ossian, Homer, Milton, Rousseau?_
JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.--1. From whom was he descended? 2. What does
Paulding say of him? _3. Where is found the quotation--"Free will
fixed fate, foreknowledge absolute"?_
GEORGE TUCKER.--1. To whom was he related? 2. How long was he
professor at the University of Virginia? 3. Who was founder of the
University? _4. Where is the Natural Bridge?_ (_See picture under Mrs.
Preston._) _5. When was the University established and opened?_
THIRD PERIOD, 1800-1850.
HENRY CLAY.--1. What two titles did he have, and for what reasons? 2.
Mention some of his companions in public life. 3. Of what measures was
he the author? _4. Who was Jackson?_ _5. Who were Philip, Alexander,
Cæsar, Brutus, Madame de Staël, Bonaparte?_ _6. What was the
difference in the ages of Clay, Calhoun and Webster?_
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.--1. Relate the circumstances under which the "Star
Spangled Banner" was written. _2. What city was burned by the British
in the year in which this song was composed?_
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON.--1. What was his favorite pursuit? 2. Where is a
set of his works to be seen?
THOMAS HART BENTON.--1. What title did he gain, and how? 2. What is
said of his great work? _3. Who were Randolph and Clay?_ _4. What was
the cause of the duel?_ _5. What office had Clay at the time?_ _6. How
were Benton and Clay connected?_ (_Mrs. Clay was a cousin of Benton's,
she had been Miss Lucretia Hart._) _7. Whom did Benton's daughter
Jessie marry, and what did she write?_ (_See "List of Southern
Writers," Frémont._)
JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN.--1. Who was his early teacher? 2. What was the
remark of Calhoun's father about government? 3. What is Calhoun's home
now? 4. What is the principle of Nullification? 5. Who first sa Previous Next |