Rosalind's and Orlando's?


VII

THE PASTORAL ELOPMENT

The Rise of Pastoral Poetry, and Shakespeare's Use of it in 'As You
Like It.'

Compare Spenser's 'Shepherd's Calendar,' Fletcher's 'Faithful
Shepherdess,' etc. Point out any differences you find between
Shakespeare's and Spenser's pastoral poetry. Modern literary use of
the pastoral element, Wordsworth's 'Michael.' Is the pastoral life of
literature always artificial? Can a progress toward realism be shown?
The humor of the play. Discuss in particular the humorous comments on
contrasts between court and country life. Compare modern instances of
the refinements and artifices of city life and the crudeness of work
and pleasure in the country.

_Special Points_.--1. The Forest of Arden: Is it in England, France,
or Shakespeare's imagination? 2. "Old Robin Hood of England." What are
the legends concerning him? 3. The archaic words in the play. (See
Prof. Sinclair Korner's 'Shakespeare's Inheritance from the Fourteenth
Century,' in _Poet-lore_, Vol. II., p. 410, Aug., 1890.)

QUERY FOR DISCUSSION

Is the opposition shown in the play between life at court and in the
country truly shown to be to the advantage of the country.