What first attracts the author's attention as he looks upward? What makes us feel how high up the banks the mist extends? What part of the mist appears most beautiful? Why? To what is it compared? How does this comparison affect our impression of (1) the colour of the mist; (2) the height of the mist? Does the comparison make the meaning clearer? Is the comparison apt? Is it beautiful?
Note.—When a blacksmith cools the red-hot iron in a tub of water, vapour rises to the roof of his shop. The blaze from his forge shining on this mist produces the colours mentioned. The amethyst is a precious stone, clear and translucent, with a colour inclining to purple. The presence of coal dust or smoke in the vapour would help to produce the colour of amethyst. The same effect would result, if some smoke or dust were mingled with the mist where the sun's rays reach it at the top of the gorge.
"Screams his matins to the day." What is meant? What idea does the author wish to convey by this mention of the bird? Out of hearing "of the clang of his hammer" gives a strong impression of the great height of the gorge. Of what "giant" are we made to think? What is meant by "skirts of mist"?
The teacher's reading of this stanza, a part at a time, if it is taken up in that way, or all at once, should aid much in impressing upon the minds of the pupils the wonderful beauty of the scene described, and this is the main purpose of the lesson.
Stanza II
The author is paddling down the river. Describe the movement. What shows that the mist has risen from the surface of the water? What indicates the calmness of the river? What things connected with himself does the author show to be in harmony with the scene? How does he indicate the harmony in each of the following: The motion of his canoe, the surface of the water, his own activity, the force of gravity, the character of the morning, and the forest life? We should expect him to dip his paddle very quietly, if he felt the calmness of the morning, but to show that the "silence" pervades all nature, the very drops of water from the paddle blades seem to fall gently, in sympathy with the spirit of silence reigning all around. What are the "river reaches"? The reach is the stretch of the river between two bends. How are they "borne in a mirror"? The high cliff-like banks are mirrored in the surface of the water. Explain the colour "purple gray". It is the colour of the image of the banks in the water. What is meant by "sheer away"? It means that the "river reaches" curve away like a winding road. Try to see the picture of the winding river, apparently growing smaller as it passes curve after curve. As it seems to recede into the distance, the surface of the river forms a "misty line of light", just before it melts into the shadows of the forest. Where do the forest and the stream seem to meet? What does the word "plight" suggest about their meeting? What suggests a meeting-place out of sight? Why is the meeting represented as taking place in the shadow? Now what is described in the second stanza?
"As a cloud", "like a dream". Do these make the meaning clearer? Explain. Are these comparisons apt? Show the fitness of "silvery", "crystal deep", "asleep".
Stanza III
As the author goes farther and farther down the stream, the river runs more slowly. How is this shown? What shows that the little creek runs very slowly into the river? How does the author say the creek is winding? Why would not the same word "curling" do to show that the river was winding through the gorge? What are we told about the mouth of the creek? See those sunken wrecks down in the water. What are they like? What shows you that they are very large tree trunks? What starts the ducks? See them as they rise out of the water. Make a drawing to show their position. The drawing should show them flying in the shape of a horizontal letter V, as wild ducks fly. What words show you that they keep this position unbroken? Hear them as they fly off at their utmost speed. Why such haste? What makes the "swivelling whistle"? This is the noise they make as they fly. Imagine a whistle to be set whirling around as it whistles. The change in the sound due to the whirling motion of the whistle might be called a swivelling whistle. See them go, led through the shadow. Hear them, as they disappear behind a rocky point ahead. What is meant by their "whirr"? What has made us forget all about the beauty of the silent morning? What effect did this silence probably have on the poet's judgment of the noise made by the ducks? Now what is described in the third stanza?
Consider the fitness of the words "lazy", "sucks", "bleeds", "sneak", "swept", "splashy".