“Step IV.—Let them read the title, and tell any facts they know about Alexander and Diogenes; then tell them Alexander was a great conqueror who lived B.C. 356-323, famous for the battles he won against Persia, India, and along the coast of the Mediterranean. He was very proud, strong, and boastful. Diogenes was a cynic philosopher. Explain cynic, illustrating by the legend of Alexander and Diogenes; and from it find out which dog represents Alexander and which Diogenes.
“Step V.—Let the children draw the chief lines of the picture, in five minutes, with pencil and paper.”
Original Illustrations.—I have spoken, from time to time, of original illustrations drawn by the children. It may be of use to subjoin notes of a lesson[40] showing the sort of occasional help a teacher may give in this kind of work; but in a general way it is best to leave children to themselves.
“Objects
“1. To help the children to make clear mental pictures from description, and to reproduce the same in painting.
“2. To increase their power of imagination.
“3. To help them in their ideas of form and colour.
“4. To increase their interest in the story of Beowulf by letting them illustrate a scene from the book they are reading.
“5. To bring out their idea of an unknown creature (Grendel).
“Steps