IV
THE ALKESTIS STORIES IN LITERATURE
The sacrifice of the Queen to ease her husband, and the final restoration, being the two main points of contact with Euripides' version of the story, compare with these the stories of Alkestis told by William Morris in 'The Earthly Paradise,'—'June'; 'The Love of Alcestis,' by Emma Lazarus, in 'Admetos,'—'Poems,' vol. i.; by Robert Browning in 'Balustion's Adventure;' by Longfellow in 'The Golden Legend.' See also articles in Poet-lore,—'The Alkestis of Euripides and of Browning,' July, 1890; 'Old and New Ideals of Womanhood'; 'The Iphigenia' and 'Alkestis Stories,' May, 1891; 'Longfellow's Golden Legend and its Analogues,' February, 1892. In comparing, note first general resemblances, then slighter points of resemblance and of difference.
QUERIES FOR DISCUSSION
Is development in literature of the ideal of womanhood away from self-sacrifice and toward self-development?
Is woman's task for the future a reconciliation of them?