On the Art of Reading · Chapters

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Chapter companions for On the Art of Reading by Arthur Quiller-Couch.

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Chapter 1
Dedication
The chapter is a brief dedication to H. F. S. and H. M. C., indicating the book is offered in gratitude or recognition to these individuals.
Chapter 2
On the Art of Reading
The chapter explores the nature and purpose of reading, arguing that true reading is an active, imaginative engagement with literature rather than a passive or mechanical process. It critiques modern educational systems that prioritize examinations over genuine understanding, and defends the value of classical and biblical texts as sources of enduring wisdom.
Chapter 3
Lecture I: Introductory
The narrator introduces the overwhelming demands of the English Literature curriculum, critiquing the examination system for prioritizing facts and chronology over genuine literary engagement. He argues that true literature is about life and the spiritual element in man, introducing Browning's doctrine of three souls—What Does, What Knows, What Is—and asserting that the highest study is of What Is, the spiritual self. The chapter sets the stage for a series of lectures on the art of reading literature.
Chapter 4
Lecture II: Apprehension Versus Comprehension
The lecture explores the art of reading, arguing that true reading is about apprehension rather than comprehension, and that the purpose of reading is not to accumulate vast knowledge but to cultivate the reader. The narrator critiques the examination system and the use of manuals, citing Bacon's 'Of Studies' to support the idea that reading should be selective and digestible, not overwhelming. The destruction of the Library of Alexandria is discussed as an example of the impossibility of reading everything, and Gibbon's perspective is challenged.
Chapter 5
Lecture III: Children's Reading (I)
The lecturer reflects on the nature of education, arguing that it should be a drawing-forth of the child's innate potential rather than an imposition. He critiques outdated teaching methods, such as block-reading, and the repressive moralistic literature of the 19th century that treated children as inherently sinful. Through anecdotes and examples, he advocates for nurturing children's natural curiosity and love of learning, emphasizing the importance of reading to oneself as the master-key to true education.

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Dedication

On the Art of Reading

Lecture I: Introductory

Lecture II: Apprehension Versus Comprehension

Lecture III: Children's Reading (I)