Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/524

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
506
SOUTHERN LIFE IN SOUTHERN LITERATURE


THE SWORD OF ROBERT LEE (PAGE 277)

This poem appeared in The Banner of the South in 1868, a few weeks after "The Conquered Banner."

QUESTIONS, i. What qualities of Lee as a man and a leader does

Ryan suggest? 2. Are there others that he might have brought forward?

HENRY TIMROD


CAROLINA (PAGE 279)

This stirring lyric was written in the exciting days of 1861, when the states were debating the question of secession. Eutaw s battle-bed: the battle of Eutaw Springs during the Revo lutionary War, in which the Americans under General Greene defeated the British. -Rutledge: John Rutledge, the president and commander in chief of South Carolina during the Revolution. Laurens: John Laurens, a young patriot and soldier who was killed in the skirmish at the close of the Revolution. Marion: the famous partisan leader of the Revolution. Huns: Northern troops. From Sachem s Head to Sumter s wall: from mountains to sea, Sachem s Head (more usually Caesar s Head) being a mountain in northeastern South Carolina, and Sumter being the fort in Charleston harbor. armorial trees: palmetto trees on the coat-of-arms of South Carolina.

QUESTION. By what appeals does the poet seek to stir the patriotism

of the citizens of his state? A CRY TO ARMS (PAGE 282) byre: cow house. cot: cottage; here equivalent to home.

QUESTIONS, i. Upon whom does the poet call, and what is each

asked to leave? 2. What is demanded of them?

CHARLESTON (PAGE 284)

This poem was evidently written late in 1861, or early in 1862, when Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie were both in the hands of the Con federates and the Union warships were blockading the coast. second summer: Indian summer. Sumter: Fort Sumter in Charles ton harbor. Calpe: a Greek name for Gibraltar. Moultrie: Fort