1a. How long did Johnson expect to take to complete his dictionary? How did this amount of time compare to the time it took the French Academy to complete its dictionary?
2a. What incident supposedly offended Johnson in his visit to Lord Chesterfield's? What does Johnson tell Boswell about the incident?
3a. What did Lord Chesterfield later do to win Johnson's favor? In his letter to Lord Chester-field, what reason does Johnson give for not valuing his recommendation of the dictionary?
4a. Analyze the details Boswell chooses to include. What do they reveal about him? What negative aspects of Johnson does he reveal?
5a. Evaluate Johnson's assessment of Chesterfield as a patron. Do you agree with Johnson that Chesterfield was insincere and self-serving? Explain.
1b. What does Boswell's discussion indicate about Boswell's assessment of the project? What does Boswell see as Johnson's attitude toward the task he had undertaken?
2b. Why do you think so many people found the story about Johnson and Chesterfield plausible?
3b. Why might Chesterfield have wanted to win Johnson's goodwill? Explain whether you think his attempt was sincere.
4b. Does Boswell's treatment of Johnson seem evenhanded? Do Boswell's self-admissions add to or detract from his credibility? Explain.
5b. How might Lord Chesterfield's actions have related to the definition of patron that Samuel Johnson includes in his A Dictionary of the English Language on page 620?
Characterization. What techniques did Boswell use in the passage about Johnson's response to Chesterfield's actions? How do you know? What does Johnson's response reveal about his character?
Anecdote. Review the chart you made in Literary Tools. The story of Johnson's wait at Lord Chesterfield's is an example of an anecdote. Is Boswell's anecdote elaborate or sketchy? To support your answer, give examples of details that are or are not included. What do you think was Boswell's purpose in including or omitting these details? How might he have achieved a different effect?
1. Based on what you know from this selection, write a definition of biographer. As you write the definition, keep in mind not only your understanding of the word, but also the kind of humor Johnson used in his definitions and his feelings toward Boswell.
2. Write an anecdote that reveals something about your character. Before writing your anecdote, make sure you are clear on the point you are trying to make. The details you decide to include should highlight this point.
3. Write a biographical essay about somebody you know well. As Boswell did, focus less on events and dates and more on the personality of the individual, what makes him or her tick.
Editing for Punctuation Errors. Rewrite the following sentences, correcting any errors in punctuation.
1. James Boswell didnt' take notes very often.
2. Instead he practiced remembering what he heard until he could write it down.
3. Do you suppose that practice put his subjects at ease.
4. It seems to have worked at least in the case of his biography of Johnson.
5. Adams said this is a great work, sir.
Delivering a Toast.Use the space below to write a toast in honor of someone you know well. You might toast a teacher, coach, friend, or parent. In your toast, highlight the qualities or achievements you admire and express what the honoree has meant to you personally.
