His appearance.
Hindrances to his success—in the time in which he lived, in his surroundings, in himself.
Preparation for his life work: inherited tastes and tendencies, his education, circumstances by which he was surrounded.
His friends and associates: patrons, friends in his poverty, friends in his success, his dependents.
His writings: political, critical, poetical, biographical miscellaneous.
(Mention the separate writings in each division, characterize his work, and compare his success in one line with that in another.)
Johnson's travels.
Johnson the writer and Johnson the talker.
The Literary Club.
Macaulay's treatment of Boswell.