Statement (lines 1,2): The English language is the richest for poetry.

Qualification of statement (lines 3-10): This doesn't mean that England has produced the greatest poets or amount of poetry.

Clarification (lines 11-14): English is the richest language for poetry because it has the largest vocabulary.

Supporting statement+examples(lines 14-29): This richness is due to the variety of element of which English is made of:
a) Germanic foundation
b) Scandinavian elements
c) Norman French elements
d) succession of French influences
e) Latin words
f) Celtic elements

Further clarification+examples(29-40): The English language is also rich in its rhythmic variety. The elements are:
a) Saxon verses
b) Norman French rhythmic elements
c) Welsh rhythmic elements
d) Latin poetry
e) Greek poetry

First restatement (lines 41-44): English is a good language for poetry because it is derived from so many linguistic sources.

Second restatement(lines 44-48): England has not necessarily produced the greatest poets.

Statement+examples( lines 49-51): It is generally thought that the greatest people excel in one art. Examples:
a) Italy and France in painting
b) Germany in music
c) England in poetry

Refutation+examples(lines 52-68): This is not correct because:
a) No one country had a possession of any art
b) There have been a periods when another country has taken a lead in one art
Example: In the second half of 19th century France had the greatest contribution in England poetry whose production was certainly in France.

Further refutation+example(lines 68-76): A nation which leads in a particular art form in a particular period does not necessarily produce the greatest artists.
Example: Goethe was greater man than Wordsworth

Statement (lines 77-86): No European nation would have accomplished what it has, as far as culture is concerned, if other countries had not developed the same art forms.

Statement(lines 86-99): The ability of European literature to renew itself depends on two factors:

a) ability to receive and assimilate influences from abroad
b) ability to go back and learn from its own sources

Exercise III The personal pronouns.
The pronoun "I" refers always to the same person, the writer.
The pronoun "you" refers always to the audience.
The pronoun "we" refers to two different groups of people. On the first occasion (line 19) "we" is used to refer to the English speaking people in opposition to "you", the German speaking people. On all occasions "we" equals "one" or "people" in general.

Exercise IV The verbs.
-show logical sequences (e.g. "I have been leadin up to"....)
-give evidence (e.g. "i refer to".....)
-express opinion (e.g. "i think","i think of", "i am thinking"....)

Exercise V The questions about Eliot's essay.
A Who is the essayist addressing?
The essayist is addressing to an audience, because this is one of the series of talks broadcast to Germany.

B Whose opinions are put forward in the essay?
The most of opinions in this essay are writer's personal opinions but he also put foward some generaly opinions.

C What is the writer main intention?
His main intension is to persuase his auidence to accept his thesis.

D How does the essayist substantiate his statements?
He substantiates his statements with their qualifications, clarifications, examples, refutation of contrary thesis...