‘A Coach Stop on the Place de Passy,’ by Edmond Georges Grandjean (1844-1908). A postilion takes two weary white horses to rest as another carriage clatters out of the yard. The ever-so-slightly snooty English horse in Mrs Devonshire’s anecdote was put to similar work in some Continental town, but as it turned out his Continental employers indulged him just as his English master had done.
IF a cross or bad word was spoken to him, no power could persuade him to touch a mouthful of food; and if in harness, not a stroke of work would he do, in assisting to draw the carriage: therefore, whenever he came in from his journeys, they were obliged to give him his food, accompanied by all the pretty and coaxing expressions they could make use of.
The postilion told me that when first he came into the stables, one of the men had given him a slight pat on the back, accompanied by an impolite expression, at which the little horse was so affronted that he could not be prevailed upon to touch his food for days...
Abridged
From ‘Original Anecdotes of British Quadrupeds’ (1841) by an anonymous author. Attributed in ‘The London catalogue of books &c.’ (1851) to Devonshire (Mrs).
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate her ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Able. Accompany. Pretty.
2 He. Match. Very.
3 Come. Master. Speed.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Cell.
Sell.
2.
Know.
No.
3.
Great.
Grate.
4.
Him.
Hymn.
5.
Hoarse.
Horse.
6.
Won.
One.
7.
Knot.
Not.
8.
Slight.
Sleight.
9.
Sew.
So.
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Master.
Teacher.
2.
Masterful.
Masterly.
3.
Me.
I.
4.
Replete.
Complete.
5.
That.
Which.
6.
There.
Their.
7.
Wander.
Wonder.
8.
Were.
We’re.
9.
Worse.
Worst.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
Add
Your Words ()
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