Readings from—Jonson's Every Man in His Humour. Beaumont and Fletcher's Knight of the Burning Pestle. Shakespeare—History: Henry V. Comedy: As You Like It. Tragedy: Macbeth. Fancy: Midsummer Night's Dream. Sentiment: Romeo and Juliet.
Books to Consult—Taine: History of English Literature: Book II., Chapter II. Hamilton Mabie: Shakespeare. The Mermaid Series of Dramatists.
In addition to these papers have short readings from Kenilworth, and Miss Strickland's Queens of England, giving a clear idea of Elizabeth. Read also from Jonson's Sad Shepherd, the Masque of Oberon and the Masque of Queens. Give a sketch of the modern reproduction of an old miracle-play, called Everyman, with a selection. Close with Shakespeare's estimate of Jonson, and Jonson's estimate of Shakespeare, and show photographs of Shakespeare, his birthplace, Anne Hathaway's cottage, the Avon, the parish church.
II—THE RISE OF MODERN COMEDY
1. Beaumarchais—Story of his life. Characteristics. Readings from The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. The modern operas founded on these.
2. Molière—His humble origin, rise and relation to the court. His matrimonial unhappiness and estimate of women. Readings from Les Précieuses Ridicules, Tartuffe and Sganarelle. Quotations from modern estimates of Molière.
3. English Comedy under the Restoration—Effect on the drama of the return of the Stuarts. Estimates of the following writers and quotations from the plays mentioned: Sir George Etheredge: She Wou'd if She Cou'd. William Congreve: The Double Dealer. William Wycherley: The Plain Dealer. Sir John Vanbrugh: The Relapse, which is said to have created the fop as a type. George Farquhar: The Beaux' Stratagem.
4. Comedy under the Georges—Goldsmith and Sheridan. Birth of both in Ireland, and its effect on their lives and work as dramatists. Modernness. Readings from The Good-Natured Man and She Stoops to Conquer. Readings from The Rivals and The School for Scandal. Readings from Irving's Life of Goldsmith. Description of his grave by the Temple Church, London.
Books to Consult—Van Laun's History of French Literature. Translations by Van Laun and Curtis Hidden Page. Lives of Molière by Chatfield-Taylor and Brander Matthews. The Mermaid Library (for the Restoration Dramatists).
Between the September and the October programs there might be an informal morning meeting, at which the novel by Chatfield-Taylor, Fame's Pathway, of which Molière is the hero, might be read in whole or in part. It gives a vivid description of the stage of that time. In reading The School for Scandal, The Rivals and She Stoops to Conquer, arrange to have the parts taken by several of the club and have a rehearsal to insure a smooth rendering of these bright plays. An additional paper for this program might be on Jeremy Collier's famous attack on the stage, and its purifying effect.